101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2019 and 2020
HB2840

 

Introduced , by Rep. Jay Hoffman

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
105 ILCS 5/10-20.59
105 ILCS 5/10-20.69 new
105 ILCS 5/10-21.8  from Ch. 122, par. 10-21.8
105 ILCS 5/13B-60.10
105 ILCS 5/14-8.02  from Ch. 122, par. 14-8.02
105 ILCS 5/34-18.52
105 ILCS 5/34-18.61 new
105 ILCS 10/2  from Ch. 122, par. 50-2
105 ILCS 10/4  from Ch. 122, par. 50-4
105 ILCS 10/5  from Ch. 122, par. 50-5
105 ILCS 10/6  from Ch. 122, par. 50-6

    Amends the School Code. Provides that each school board must (rather than may) appoint at least one employee to act as a liaison to facilitate enrollment and transfer of records of students in the legal custody of the Department of Children and Family Services. Provides that, for any student who is in the legal custody of the Department of Children and Family Services, a school board must inform the student's caseworker of a parent-teacher conference or any other meeting concerning the student that would otherwise involve a parent and must, at the option of the caseworker, allow the caseworker to attend the conference or meeting. Makes related changes. Amends the Illinois School Student Records Act. Provides that if a student is in the legal custody of the Department of Children and Family Services, his or her caseworker must be informed before a school student record is destroyed or any information in that record is deleted and shall have the right to inspect and copy all school student permanent and temporary records. Makes related changes. Effective immediately.


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FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY
STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB2840LRB101 08616 AXK 53695 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 changing Sections
510-20.59, 10-21.8, 13B-60.10, 14-8.02, and 34-18.52 and by
6adding Sections 10-20.69 and 34-18.61 as follows:
 
7    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.59)
8    Sec. 10-20.59. DCFS liaison.
9    (a) Each school board must may appoint at least one
10employee to act as a liaison to facilitate the enrollment and
11transfer of records of students in the legal custody of the
12Department of Children and Family Services when enrolling in or
13changing schools. The school board may appoint any employee of
14the school district who is licensed under Article 21B of this
15Code to act as a liaison; however, employees who meet any of
16the following criteria must be prioritized for appointment:
17        (1) Employees who have worked with mobile student
18    populations or students in foster care.
19        (2) Employees who are familiar with enrollment, record
20    transfers, existing community services, and student
21    support services.
22        (3) Employees who serve as a high-level administrator.
23        (4) Employees who are counselors or have experience

 

 

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1    with student counseling.
2        (5) Employees who are knowledgeable on child welfare
3    policies.
4        (6) Employees who serve as a school social worker.
5    (b) Liaisons under this Section are encouraged to build
6capacity and infrastructure within their school district to
7support students in the legal custody of the Department of
8Children and Family Services. Liaison responsibilities may
9include the following:
10        (1) streamlining the enrollment processes for students
11    in foster care;
12        (2) implementing student data tracking and monitoring
13    mechanisms;
14        (3) ensuring that students in the legal custody of the
15    Department of Children and Family Services receive all
16    school nutrition and meal programs available;
17        (4) coordinating student withdrawal from a school,
18    record transfers, and credit recovery;
19        (5) becoming experts on the foster care system and
20    State laws and policies in place that support children
21    under the legal custody of the Department of Children and
22    Family Services;
23        (6) coordinating with child welfare partners;
24        (7) providing foster care-related information and
25    training to the school district;
26        (8) working with the Department of Children and Family

 

 

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1    Services to help students maintain their school placement,
2    if appropriate;
3        (9) reviewing student schedules to ensure that
4    students are on track to graduate;
5        (10) encouraging a successful transition into
6    adulthood and post-secondary opportunities;
7        (11) encouraging involvement in extracurricular
8    activities; and
9        (12) knowing what support is available within the
10    school district and community for students in the legal
11    custody of the Department of Children and Family Services.
12    (c) (Blank). A school district is encouraged to designate a
13liaison by the beginning of the 2017-2018 school year.
14    (d) Individuals licensed under Article 21B of this Code
15acting as a liaison under this Section shall perform the duties
16of a liaison in addition to existing contractual obligations.
17(Source: P.A. 99-781, eff. 8-12-16; 100-201, eff. 8-18-17.)
 
18    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.69 new)
19    Sec. 10-20.69. Parent-teacher conference and other
20meetings; caseworker. For any student who is in the legal
21custody of the Department of Children and Family Services, a
22school board must inform the student's caseworker of a
23parent-teacher conference or any other meeting concerning the
24student that would otherwise involve a parent and must, at the
25option of the caseworker, allow the caseworker to attend the

 

 

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1conference or meeting.
 
2    (105 ILCS 5/10-21.8)  (from Ch. 122, par. 10-21.8)
3    Sec. 10-21.8. Correspondence and Reports. In the absence of
4any court order to the contrary to require that, upon the
5request of either parent of a pupil whose parents are divorced
6or, if the student is in the legal custody of the Department of
7Children and Family Services, a caseworker, copies of the
8following: reports or records which reflect the pupil's
9academic progress, reports of the pupil's emotional and
10physical health, notices of school-initiated parent-teacher
11conference, notices of major school-sponsored events, such as
12open houses, which involve pupil-parent interaction, and
13copies of the school calendar regarding the child which are
14furnished by the school district to one parent be furnished by
15mail to the other parent or, if applicable, the caseworker.
16Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section a
17school board shall not, under the authority of this Section,
18refuse to mail copies of reports, records, notices or other
19documents regarding a pupil to a parent of the pupil as
20provided by this Section, unless the school board first has
21been furnished with a certified copy of the court order
22prohibiting the release of such reports, records, notices or
23other documents to that parent. No such reports or records with
24respect to a pupil shall be provided to a parent who has been
25prohibited by an order of protection from inspecting or

 

 

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1obtaining school records of that pupil pursuant to the Illinois
2Domestic Violence Act of 1986, as now or hereafter amended.
3(Source: P.A. 86-966.)
 
4    (105 ILCS 5/13B-60.10)
5    Sec. 13B-60.10. Parent conference. Before being enrolled
6in an alternative learning opportunities program, the student
7and each of his or her parents or guardians, and, if the
8student is in the legal custody of the Department of Children
9and Family Services, his or her caseworker shall receive
10written notice to attend a conference to determine if the
11student would benefit from attending an alternative learning
12opportunities program. The conference must provide all of the
13information necessary for the student and parent or guardian to
14make an informed decision regarding enrollment in an
15alternative learning opportunities program. The conference
16shall include a discussion of the extent to which the student,
17if enrolled in the program, may participate in school
18activities. No student shall be enrolled in an alternative
19learning opportunities program without the consent of the
20student's parent or guardian.
21(Source: P.A. 92-42, eff. 1-1-02.)
 
22    (105 ILCS 5/14-8.02)  (from Ch. 122, par. 14-8.02)
23    Sec. 14-8.02. Identification, evaluation, and placement of
24children.

 

 

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1    (a) The State Board of Education shall make rules under
2which local school boards shall determine the eligibility of
3children to receive special education. Such rules shall ensure
4that a free appropriate public education be available to all
5children with disabilities as defined in Section 14-1.02. The
6State Board of Education shall require local school districts
7to administer non-discriminatory procedures or tests to
8English learners coming from homes in which a language other
9than English is used to determine their eligibility to receive
10special education. The placement of low English proficiency
11students in special education programs and facilities shall be
12made in accordance with the test results reflecting the
13student's linguistic, cultural and special education needs.
14For purposes of determining the eligibility of children the
15State Board of Education shall include in the rules definitions
16of "case study", "staff conference", "individualized
17educational program", and "qualified specialist" appropriate
18to each category of children with disabilities as defined in
19this Article. For purposes of determining the eligibility of
20children from homes in which a language other than English is
21used, the State Board of Education shall include in the rules
22definitions for "qualified bilingual specialists" and
23"linguistically and culturally appropriate individualized
24educational programs". For purposes of this Section, as well as
25Sections 14-8.02a, 14-8.02b, and 14-8.02c of this Code,
26"parent" means a parent as defined in the federal Individuals

 

 

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1with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1401(23)).
2    (b) No child shall be eligible for special education
3facilities except with a carefully completed case study fully
4reviewed by professional personnel in a multidisciplinary
5staff conference and only upon the recommendation of qualified
6specialists or a qualified bilingual specialist, if available.
7At the conclusion of the multidisciplinary staff conference,
8the parent of the child and, if the child is in the legal
9custody of the Department of Children and Family Services, his
10or her caseworker shall be given a copy of the
11multidisciplinary conference summary report and
12recommendations, which includes options considered, and, in
13the case of the parent, be informed of his or her their right
14to obtain an independent educational evaluation if he or she
15disagrees they disagree with the evaluation findings conducted
16or obtained by the school district. If the school district's
17evaluation is shown to be inappropriate, the school district
18shall reimburse the parent for the cost of the independent
19evaluation. The State Board of Education shall, with advice
20from the State Advisory Council on Education of Children with
21Disabilities on the inclusion of specific independent
22educational evaluators, prepare a list of suggested
23independent educational evaluators. The State Board of
24Education shall include on the list clinical psychologists
25licensed pursuant to the Clinical Psychologist Licensing Act.
26Such psychologists shall not be paid fees in excess of the

 

 

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1amount that would be received by a school psychologist for
2performing the same services. The State Board of Education
3shall supply school districts with such list and make the list
4available to parents at their request. School districts shall
5make the list available to parents at the time they are
6informed of their right to obtain an independent educational
7evaluation. However, the school district may initiate an
8impartial due process hearing under this Section within 5 days
9of any written parent request for an independent educational
10evaluation to show that its evaluation is appropriate. If the
11final decision is that the evaluation is appropriate, the
12parent still has a right to an independent educational
13evaluation, but not at public expense. An independent
14educational evaluation at public expense must be completed
15within 30 days of a parent written request unless the school
16district initiates an impartial due process hearing or the
17parent or school district offers reasonable grounds to show
18that such 30 day time period should be extended. If the due
19process hearing decision indicates that the parent is entitled
20to an independent educational evaluation, it must be completed
21within 30 days of the decision unless the parent or the school
22district offers reasonable grounds to show that such 30 day
23period should be extended. If a parent disagrees with the
24summary report or recommendations of the multidisciplinary
25conference or the findings of any educational evaluation which
26results therefrom, the school district shall not proceed with a

 

 

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1placement based upon such evaluation and the child shall remain
2in his or her regular classroom setting. No child shall be
3eligible for admission to a special class for children with a
4mental disability who are educable or for children with a
5mental disability who are trainable except with a psychological
6evaluation and recommendation by a school psychologist.
7Consent shall be obtained from the parent of a child before any
8evaluation is conducted. If consent is not given by the parent
9or if the parent disagrees with the findings of the evaluation,
10then the school district may initiate an impartial due process
11hearing under this Section. The school district may evaluate
12the child if that is the decision resulting from the impartial
13due process hearing and the decision is not appealed or if the
14decision is affirmed on appeal. The determination of
15eligibility shall be made and the IEP meeting shall be
16completed within 60 school days from the date of written
17parental consent. In those instances when written parental
18consent is obtained with fewer than 60 pupil attendance days
19left in the school year, the eligibility determination shall be
20made and the IEP meeting shall be completed prior to the first
21day of the following school year. Special education and related
22services must be provided in accordance with the student's IEP
23no later than 10 school attendance days after notice is
24provided to the parents pursuant to Section 300.503 of Title 34
25of the Code of Federal Regulations and implementing rules
26adopted by the State Board of Education. The appropriate

 

 

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1program pursuant to the individualized educational program of
2students whose native tongue is a language other than English
3shall reflect the special education, cultural and linguistic
4needs. No later than September 1, 1993, the State Board of
5Education shall establish standards for the development,
6implementation and monitoring of appropriate bilingual special
7individualized educational programs. The State Board of
8Education shall further incorporate appropriate monitoring
9procedures to verify implementation of these standards. The
10district shall indicate to the parent, and the State Board of
11Education, and, if applicable, the child's caseworker the
12nature of the services the child will receive for the regular
13school term while waiting placement in the appropriate special
14education class. At the child's initial IEP meeting and at each
15annual review meeting, the child's IEP team shall provide the
16child's parent or guardian and, if applicable, the child's
17caseworker with a written notification that informs the parent
18or guardian or the caseworker that the IEP team is required to
19consider whether the child requires assistive technology in
20order to receive free, appropriate public education. The
21notification must also include a toll-free telephone number and
22internet address for the State's assistive technology program.
23    If the child is deaf, hard of hearing, blind, or visually
24impaired and he or she might be eligible to receive services
25from the Illinois School for the Deaf or the Illinois School
26for the Visually Impaired, the school district shall notify the

 

 

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1parents, in writing, of the existence of these schools and the
2services they provide and shall make a reasonable effort to
3inform the parents of the existence of other, local schools
4that provide similar services and the services that these other
5schools provide. This notification shall include without
6limitation information on school services, school admissions
7criteria, and school contact information.
8    In the development of the individualized education program
9for a student who has a disability on the autism spectrum
10(which includes autistic disorder, Asperger's disorder,
11pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified,
12childhood disintegrative disorder, and Rett Syndrome, as
13defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental
14Disorders, fourth edition (DSM-IV, 2000)), the IEP team shall
15consider all of the following factors:
16        (1) The verbal and nonverbal communication needs of the
17    child.
18        (2) The need to develop social interaction skills and
19    proficiencies.
20        (3) The needs resulting from the child's unusual
21    responses to sensory experiences.
22        (4) The needs resulting from resistance to
23    environmental change or change in daily routines.
24        (5) The needs resulting from engagement in repetitive
25    activities and stereotyped movements.
26        (6) The need for any positive behavioral

 

 

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1    interventions, strategies, and supports to address any
2    behavioral difficulties resulting from autism spectrum
3    disorder.
4        (7) Other needs resulting from the child's disability
5    that impact progress in the general curriculum, including
6    social and emotional development.
7Public Act 95-257 does not create any new entitlement to a
8service, program, or benefit, but must not affect any
9entitlement to a service, program, or benefit created by any
10other law.
11    If the student may be eligible to participate in the
12Home-Based Support Services Program for Adults with Mental
13Disabilities authorized under the Developmental Disability and
14Mental Disability Services Act upon becoming an adult, the
15student's individualized education program shall include plans
16for (i) determining the student's eligibility for those
17home-based services, (ii) enrolling the student in the program
18of home-based services, and (iii) developing a plan for the
19student's most effective use of the home-based services after
20the student becomes an adult and no longer receives special
21educational services under this Article. The plans developed
22under this paragraph shall include specific actions to be taken
23by specified individuals, agencies, or officials.
24    (c) In the development of the individualized education
25program for a student who is functionally blind, it shall be
26presumed that proficiency in Braille reading and writing is

 

 

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1essential for the student's satisfactory educational progress.
2For purposes of this subsection, the State Board of Education
3shall determine the criteria for a student to be classified as
4functionally blind. Students who are not currently identified
5as functionally blind who are also entitled to Braille
6instruction include: (i) those whose vision loss is so severe
7that they are unable to read and write at a level comparable to
8their peers solely through the use of vision, and (ii) those
9who show evidence of progressive vision loss that may result in
10functional blindness. Each student who is functionally blind
11shall be entitled to Braille reading and writing instruction
12that is sufficient to enable the student to communicate with
13the same level of proficiency as other students of comparable
14ability. Instruction should be provided to the extent that the
15student is physically and cognitively able to use Braille.
16Braille instruction may be used in combination with other
17special education services appropriate to the student's
18educational needs. The assessment of each student who is
19functionally blind for the purpose of developing the student's
20individualized education program shall include documentation
21of the student's strengths and weaknesses in Braille skills.
22Each person assisting in the development of the individualized
23education program for a student who is functionally blind shall
24receive information describing the benefits of Braille
25instruction. The individualized education program for each
26student who is functionally blind shall specify the appropriate

 

 

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1learning medium or media based on the assessment report.
2    (d) To the maximum extent appropriate, the placement shall
3provide the child with the opportunity to be educated with
4children who do not have a disability; provided that children
5with disabilities who are recommended to be placed into regular
6education classrooms are provided with supplementary services
7to assist the children with disabilities to benefit from the
8regular classroom instruction and are included on the teacher's
9regular education class register. Subject to the limitation of
10the preceding sentence, placement in special classes, separate
11schools or other removal of the child with a disability from
12the regular educational environment shall occur only when the
13nature of the severity of the disability is such that education
14in the regular classes with the use of supplementary aids and
15services cannot be achieved satisfactorily. The placement of
16English learners with disabilities shall be in non-restrictive
17environments which provide for integration with peers who do
18not have disabilities in bilingual classrooms. Annually, each
19January, school districts shall report data on students from
20non-English speaking backgrounds receiving special education
21and related services in public and private facilities as
22prescribed in Section 2-3.30. If there is a disagreement
23between parties involved regarding the special education
24placement of any child, either in-state or out-of-state, the
25placement is subject to impartial due process procedures
26described in Article 10 of the Rules and Regulations to Govern

 

 

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1the Administration and Operation of Special Education.
2    (e) No child who comes from a home in which a language
3other than English is the principal language used may be
4assigned to any class or program under this Article until he
5has been given, in the principal language used by the child and
6used in his home, tests reasonably related to his cultural
7environment. All testing and evaluation materials and
8procedures utilized for evaluation and placement shall not be
9linguistically, racially or culturally discriminatory.
10    (f) Nothing in this Article shall be construed to require
11any child to undergo any physical examination or medical
12treatment whose parents object thereto on the grounds that such
13examination or treatment conflicts with his religious beliefs.
14    (g) School boards or their designee shall provide to the
15parents of a child or, if applicable, the child's caseworker
16prior written notice of any decision (a) proposing to initiate
17or change, or (b) refusing to initiate or change, the
18identification, evaluation, or educational placement of the
19child or the provision of a free appropriate public education
20to their child, and the reasons therefor. For a parent, such
21Such written notification shall also inform the parent of the
22opportunity to present complaints with respect to any matter
23relating to the educational placement of the student, or the
24provision of a free appropriate public education and to have an
25impartial due process hearing on the complaint. The notice
26shall inform the parents in the parents' native language,

 

 

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1unless it is clearly not feasible to do so, of their rights and
2all procedures available pursuant to this Act and the federal
3Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of
42004 (Public Law 108-446); it shall be the responsibility of
5the State Superintendent to develop uniform notices setting
6forth the procedures available under this Act and the federal
7Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of
82004 (Public Law 108-446) to be used by all school boards. The
9notice shall also inform the parents of the availability upon
10request of a list of free or low-cost legal and other relevant
11services available locally to assist parents in initiating an
12impartial due process hearing. The State Superintendent shall
13revise the uniform notices required by this subsection (g) to
14reflect current law and procedures at least once every 2 years.
15Any parent who is deaf, or does not normally communicate using
16spoken English, who participates in a meeting with a
17representative of a local educational agency for the purposes
18of developing an individualized educational program shall be
19entitled to the services of an interpreter.
20    (g-5) For purposes of this subsection (g-5), "qualified
21professional" means an individual who holds credentials to
22evaluate the child in the domain or domains for which an
23evaluation is sought or an intern working under the direct
24supervision of a qualified professional, including a master's
25or doctoral degree candidate.
26    To ensure that a parent can participate fully and

 

 

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1effectively with school personnel in the development of
2appropriate educational and related services for his or her
3child, the parent, an independent educational evaluator, or a
4qualified professional retained by or on behalf of a parent or
5child must be afforded reasonable access to educational
6facilities, personnel, classrooms, and buildings and to the
7child as provided in this subsection (g-5). The requirements of
8this subsection (g-5) apply to any public school facility,
9building, or program and to any facility, building, or program
10supported in whole or in part by public funds. Prior to
11visiting a school, school building, or school facility, the
12parent, independent educational evaluator, or qualified
13professional may be required by the school district to inform
14the building principal or supervisor in writing of the proposed
15visit, the purpose of the visit, and the approximate duration
16of the visit. The visitor and the school district shall arrange
17the visit or visits at times that are mutually agreeable.
18Visitors shall comply with school safety, security, and
19visitation policies at all times. School district visitation
20policies must not conflict with this subsection (g-5). Visitors
21shall be required to comply with the requirements of applicable
22privacy laws, including those laws protecting the
23confidentiality of education records such as the federal Family
24Educational Rights and Privacy Act and the Illinois School
25Student Records Act. The visitor shall not disrupt the
26educational process.

 

 

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1        (1) A parent must be afforded reasonable access of
2    sufficient duration and scope for the purpose of observing
3    his or her child in the child's current educational
4    placement, services, or program or for the purpose of
5    visiting an educational placement or program proposed for
6    the child.
7        (2) An independent educational evaluator or a
8    qualified professional retained by or on behalf of a parent
9    or child must be afforded reasonable access of sufficient
10    duration and scope for the purpose of conducting an
11    evaluation of the child, the child's performance, the
12    child's current educational program, placement, services,
13    or environment, or any educational program, placement,
14    services, or environment proposed for the child, including
15    interviews of educational personnel, child observations,
16    assessments, tests or assessments of the child's
17    educational program, services, or placement or of any
18    proposed educational program, services, or placement. If
19    one or more interviews of school personnel are part of the
20    evaluation, the interviews must be conducted at a mutually
21    agreed upon time, date, and place that do not interfere
22    with the school employee's school duties. The school
23    district may limit interviews to personnel having
24    information relevant to the child's current educational
25    services, program, or placement or to a proposed
26    educational service, program, or placement.

 

 

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1    (h) (Blank).
2    (i) (Blank).
3    (j) (Blank).
4    (k) (Blank).
5    (l) (Blank).
6    (m) (Blank).
7    (n) (Blank).
8    (o) (Blank).
9(Source: P.A. 99-30, eff. 7-10-15; 99-143, eff. 7-27-15;
1099-642, eff. 7-28-16; 100-122, eff. 8-18-17; 100-863, eff.
118-14-18; 100-993, eff. 8-20-18.)
 
12    (105 ILCS 5/34-18.52)
13    Sec. 34-18.52. DCFS liaison.
14    (a) The board must may appoint at least one employee to act
15as a liaison to facilitate the enrollment and transfer of
16records of students in the legal custody of the Department of
17Children and Family Services when enrolling in or changing
18schools. The board may appoint any employee of the school
19district who is licensed under Article 21B of this Code to act
20as a liaison; however, employees who meet any of the following
21criteria must be prioritized for appointment:
22        (1) Employees who have worked with mobile student
23    populations or students in foster care.
24        (2) Employees who are familiar with enrollment, record
25    transfers, existing community services, and student

 

 

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1    support services.
2        (3) Employees who serve as a high-level administrator.
3        (4) Employees who are counselors or have experience
4    with student counseling.
5        (5) Employees who are knowledgeable on child welfare
6    policies.
7        (6) Employees who serve as a school social worker.
8    (b) Liaisons under this Section are encouraged to build
9capacity and infrastructure within the school district to
10support students in the legal custody of the Department of
11Children and Family Services. Liaison responsibilities may
12include the following:
13        (1) streamlining the enrollment processes for students
14    in foster care;
15        (2) implementing student data tracking and monitoring
16    mechanisms;
17        (3) ensuring that students in the legal custody of the
18    Department of Children and Family Services receive all
19    school nutrition and meal programs available;
20        (4) coordinating student withdrawal from a school,
21    record transfers, and credit recovery;
22        (5) becoming experts on the foster care system and
23    State laws and policies in place that support children
24    under the legal custody of the Department of Children and
25    Family Services;
26        (6) coordinating with child welfare partners;

 

 

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1        (7) providing foster care-related information and
2    training to the school district;
3        (8) working with the Department of Children and Family
4    Services to help students maintain their school placement,
5    if appropriate;
6        (9) reviewing student schedules to ensure that
7    students are on track to graduate;
8        (10) encouraging a successful transition into
9    adulthood and post-secondary opportunities;
10        (11) encouraging involvement in extracurricular
11    activities; and
12        (12) knowing what support is available within the
13    school district and community for students in the legal
14    custody of the Department of Children and Family Services.
15    (c) (Blank). The school district is encouraged to designate
16a liaison by the beginning of the 2017-2018 school year.
17    (d) Individuals licensed under Article 21B of this Code
18acting as a liaison under this Section shall perform the duties
19of a liaison in addition to existing contractual obligations.
20(Source: P.A. 99-781, eff. 8-12-16; 100-201, eff. 8-18-17.)
 
21    (105 ILCS 5/34-18.61 new)
22    Sec. 34-18.61. Parent-teacher conference and other
23meetings; caseworker. For any student who is in the legal
24custody of the Department of Children and Family Services, the
25board must inform the student's caseworker of a parent-teacher

 

 

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1conference or any other meeting concerning the student that
2would otherwise involve a parent and must, at the option of the
3caseworker, allow the caseworker to attend the conference or
4meeting.
 
5    Section 10. The Illinois School Student Records Act is
6amended by changing Sections 2, 4, 5, and 6 as follows:
 
7    (105 ILCS 10/2)  (from Ch. 122, par. 50-2)
8    Sec. 2. As used in this Act,
9    (a) "Student" means any person enrolled or previously
10enrolled in a school.
11    (b) "School" means any public preschool, day care center,
12kindergarten, nursery, elementary or secondary educational
13institution, vocational school, special educational facility
14or any other elementary or secondary educational agency or
15institution and any person, agency or institution which
16maintains school student records from more than one school, but
17does not include a private or non-public school.
18    (c) "State Board" means the State Board of Education.
19    (d) "School Student Record" means any writing or other
20recorded information concerning a student and by which a
21student may be individually identified, maintained by a school
22or at its direction or by an employee of a school, regardless
23of how or where the information is stored. The following shall
24not be deemed school student records under this Act: writings

 

 

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1or other recorded information maintained by an employee of a
2school or other person at the direction of a school for his or
3her exclusive use; provided that all such writings and other
4recorded information are destroyed not later than the student's
5graduation or permanent withdrawal from the school; and
6provided further that no such records or recorded information
7may be released or disclosed to any person except a person
8designated by the school as a substitute unless they are first
9incorporated in a school student record and made subject to all
10of the provisions of this Act. School student records shall not
11include information maintained by law enforcement
12professionals working in the school.
13    (e) "Student Permanent Record" means the minimum personal
14information necessary to a school in the education of the
15student and contained in a school student record. Such
16information may include the student's name, birth date,
17address, grades and grade level, parents' names and addresses,
18attendance records, and such other entries as the State Board
19may require or authorize.
20    (f) "Student Temporary Record" means all information
21contained in a school student record but not contained in the
22student permanent record. Such information may include family
23background information, intelligence test scores, aptitude
24test scores, psychological and personality test results,
25teacher evaluations, and other information of clear relevance
26to the education of the student, all subject to regulations of

 

 

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1the State Board. The information shall include information
2provided under Section 8.6 of the Abused and Neglected Child
3Reporting Act. In addition, the student temporary record shall
4include information regarding serious disciplinary infractions
5that resulted in expulsion, suspension, or the imposition of
6punishment or sanction. For purposes of this provision, serious
7disciplinary infractions means: infractions involving drugs,
8weapons, or bodily harm to another.
9    (g) "Parent" means a person who is the natural parent of
10the student or other person who has the primary responsibility
11for the care and upbringing of the student. All rights and
12privileges accorded to a parent under this Act shall become
13exclusively those of the student upon his 18th birthday,
14graduation from secondary school, marriage or entry into
15military service, whichever occurs first. Such rights and
16privileges may also be exercised by the student at any time
17with respect to the student's permanent school record.
18    (h) "Department" means the Department of Children and
19Family Services.
20(Source: P.A. 92-295, eff. 1-1-02.)
 
21    (105 ILCS 10/4)  (from Ch. 122, par. 50-4)
22    Sec. 4. (a) Each school shall designate an official records
23custodian who is responsible for the maintenance, care and
24security of all school student records, whether or not such
25records are in his personal custody or control.

 

 

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1    (b) The official records custodian shall take all
2reasonable measures to prevent unauthorized access to or
3dissemination of school student records.
4    (c) Information contained in or added to a school student
5record shall be limited to information which is of clear
6relevance to the education of the student.
7    (d) Information added to a student temporary record after
8the effective date of this Act shall include the name,
9signature and position of the person who has added such
10information and the date of its entry into the record.
11    (e) Each school shall maintain student permanent records
12and the information contained therein for not less than 60
13years after the student has transferred, graduated or otherwise
14permanently withdrawn from the school.
15    (f) Each school shall maintain student temporary records
16and the information contained in those records for not less
17than 5 years after the student has transferred, graduated, or
18otherwise withdrawn from the school. However, student
19temporary records shall not be disclosed except as provided in
20Section 5 or 6 or by court order. A school may maintain
21indefinitely anonymous information from student temporary
22records for authorized research, statistical reporting or
23planning purposes, provided that no student or parent can be
24individually identified from the information maintained.
25    (g) The principal of each school or the person with like
26responsibilities or his or her designate shall periodically

 

 

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1review each student temporary record for verification of
2entries and elimination or correction of all inaccurate,
3misleading, unnecessary or irrelevant information. The State
4Board shall issue regulations to govern the periodic review of
5the student temporary records and length of time for
6maintenance of entries to such records.
7    (h) Before any school student record is destroyed or
8information deleted therefrom, the parent and, if the student
9is in the legal custody of the Department of Children and
10Family Services, his or her caseworker shall be given
11reasonable prior notice at his or her last known address in
12accordance with regulations adopted by the State Board and an
13opportunity to copy the record and information proposed to be
14destroyed or deleted.
15    (i) No school shall be required to separate permanent and
16temporary school student records of a student not enrolled in
17such school on or after the effective date of this Act or to
18destroy any such records, or comply with the provisions of
19paragraph (g) of this Section with respect to such records,
20except (1) in accordance with the request of the parent that
21any or all of such actions be taken in compliance with the
22provisions of this Act or (2) in accordance with regulations
23adopted by the State Board.
24(Source: P.A. 90-590, eff. 1-1-00; 90-811, eff. 1-26-99.)
 
25    (105 ILCS 10/5)  (from Ch. 122, par. 50-5)

 

 

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1    Sec. 5. (a) A parent or any person specifically designated
2as a representative by a parent and, if the child is in the
3legal custody of the Department of Children and Family
4Services, his or her caseworker shall have the right to inspect
5and copy all school student permanent and temporary records of
6that parent's child. A student shall have the right to inspect
7and copy his or her school student permanent record. No person
8who is prohibited by an order of protection from inspecting or
9obtaining school records of a student pursuant to the Illinois
10Domestic Violence Act of 1986, as now or hereafter amended,
11shall have any right of access to, or inspection of, the school
12records of that student. If a school's principal or person with
13like responsibilities or his designee has knowledge of such
14order of protection, the school shall prohibit access or
15inspection of the student's school records by such person.
16    (b) Whenever access to any person is granted pursuant to
17paragraph (a) of this Section, at the option of that person
18either the parent or the school, a qualified professional, who
19may be a psychologist, counsellor or other advisor, and who may
20be an employee of the school or employed by the parent or the
21Department, may be present to interpret the information
22contained in the student temporary record. If the school
23requires that a professional be present, the school shall
24secure and bear any cost of the presence of the professional.
25If the parent or the Department so requests, the school shall
26secure and bear any cost of the presence of a professional

 

 

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1employed by the school.
2    (c) A parent's or student's or, if applicable, a
3caseworker's request to inspect and copy records, or to allow a
4specifically designated representative to inspect and copy
5records, must be granted within a reasonable time, and in no
6case later than 10 business days after the date of receipt of
7such request by the official records custodian.
8    (c-5) The time for response under this Section may be
9extended by the school district by not more than 5 business
10days from the original due date for any of the following
11reasons:
12        (1) the requested records are stored in whole or in
13    part at other locations than the office having charge of
14    the requested records;
15        (2) the request requires the collection of a
16    substantial number of specified records;
17        (3) the request is couched in categorical terms and
18    requires an extensive search for the records responsive to
19    it;
20        (4) the requested records have not been located in the
21    course of routine search and additional efforts are being
22    made to locate them;
23        (5) the request for records cannot be complied with by
24    the school district within the time limits prescribed by
25    subsection (c) of this Section without unduly burdening or
26    interfering with the operations of the school district; or

 

 

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1        (6) there is a need for consultation, which shall be
2    conducted with all practicable speed, with another public
3    body or school district or among 2 or more components of a
4    public body or school district having a substantial
5    interest in the determination or in the subject matter of
6    the request.
7    The person making a request and the school district may
8agree in writing to extend the time for compliance for a period
9to be determined by the parties. If the requester and the
10school district agree to extend the period for compliance, a
11failure by the school district to comply with any previous
12deadlines shall not be treated as a denial of the request for
13the records.
14    (d) The school may charge its reasonable costs for the
15copying of school student records, not to exceed the amounts
16fixed in schedules adopted by the State Board, to any person
17permitted to copy such records, except that no parent or
18student shall be denied a copy of school student records as
19permitted under this Section 5 for inability to bear the cost
20of such copying.
21    (e) Nothing contained in this Section 5 shall make
22available to a parent or student or, if applicable, a
23caseworker confidential letters and statements of
24recommendation furnished in connection with applications for
25employment to a post-secondary educational institution or the
26receipt of an honor or honorary recognition, provided such

 

 

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1letters and statements are not used for purposes other than
2those for which they were specifically intended, and
3        (1) were placed in a school student record prior to
4    January 1, 1975; or
5        (2) the student has waived access thereto after being
6    advised of his right to obtain upon request the names of
7    all such persons making such confidential recommendations.
8    (f) Nothing contained in this Act shall be construed to
9impair or limit the confidentiality of:
10        (1) Communications otherwise protected by law as
11    privileged or confidential, including but not limited to,
12    information communicated in confidence to a physician,
13    psychologist or other psychotherapist, school social
14    worker, school counselor, school psychologist, or school
15    social worker, school counselor, or school psychologist
16    intern who works under the direct supervision of a school
17    social worker, school counselor, or school psychologist;
18    or
19        (2) Information which is communicated by a student or
20    parent in confidence to school personnel; or
21        (3) Information which is communicated by a student,
22    parent, or guardian to a law enforcement professional
23    working in the school, except as provided by court order.
24    (g) No school employee shall be subjected to adverse
25employment action, the threat of adverse employment action, or
26any manner of discrimination because the employee is acting or

 

 

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1has acted to protect communications as privileged or
2confidential pursuant to applicable provisions of State or
3federal law or rule or regulation.
4(Source: P.A. 100-532, eff. 9-22-17.)
 
5    (105 ILCS 10/6)  (from Ch. 122, par. 50-6)
6    Sec. 6. (a) No school student records or information
7contained therein may be released, transferred, disclosed or
8otherwise disseminated, except as follows:
9        (1) to a parent or student or person specifically
10    designated as a representative by a parent, as provided in
11    paragraph (a) of Section 5;
12        (2) to an employee or official of the school or school
13    district or State Board with current demonstrable
14    educational or administrative interest in the student, in
15    furtherance of such interest;
16        (3) to the official records custodian of another school
17    within Illinois or an official with similar
18    responsibilities of a school outside Illinois, in which the
19    student has enrolled, or intends to enroll, upon the
20    request of such official or student;
21        (4) to any person for the purpose of research,
22    statistical reporting, or planning, provided that such
23    research, statistical reporting, or planning is
24    permissible under and undertaken in accordance with the
25    federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (20

 

 

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1    U.S.C. 1232g);
2        (5) pursuant to a court order, provided that the parent
3    shall be given prompt written notice upon receipt of such
4    order of the terms of the order, the nature and substance
5    of the information proposed to be released in compliance
6    with such order and an opportunity to inspect and copy the
7    school student records and to challenge their contents
8    pursuant to Section 7;
9        (6) to any person as specifically required by State or
10    federal law;
11        (6.5) to juvenile authorities when necessary for the
12    discharge of their official duties who request information
13    prior to adjudication of the student and who certify in
14    writing that the information will not be disclosed to any
15    other party except as provided under law or order of court.
16    For purposes of this Section "juvenile authorities" means:
17    (i) a judge of the circuit court and members of the staff
18    of the court designated by the judge; (ii) parties to the
19    proceedings under the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 and their
20    attorneys; (iii) probation officers and court appointed
21    advocates for the juvenile authorized by the judge hearing
22    the case; (iv) any individual, public or private agency
23    having custody of the child pursuant to court order; (v)
24    any individual, public or private agency providing
25    education, medical or mental health service to the child
26    when the requested information is needed to determine the

 

 

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1    appropriate service or treatment for the minor; (vi) any
2    potential placement provider when such release is
3    authorized by the court for the limited purpose of
4    determining the appropriateness of the potential
5    placement; (vii) law enforcement officers and prosecutors;
6    (viii) adult and juvenile prisoner review boards; (ix)
7    authorized military personnel; (x) individuals authorized
8    by court;
9        (7) subject to regulations of the State Board, in
10    connection with an emergency, to appropriate persons if the
11    knowledge of such information is necessary to protect the
12    health or safety of the student or other persons;
13        (8) to any person, with the prior specific dated
14    written consent of the parent designating the person to
15    whom the records may be released, provided that at the time
16    any such consent is requested or obtained, the parent shall
17    be advised in writing that he has the right to inspect and
18    copy such records in accordance with Section 5, to
19    challenge their contents in accordance with Section 7 and
20    to limit any such consent to designated records or
21    designated portions of the information contained therein;
22        (9) to a governmental agency, or social service agency
23    contracted by a governmental agency, in furtherance of an
24    investigation of a student's school attendance pursuant to
25    the compulsory student attendance laws of this State,
26    provided that the records are released to the employee or

 

 

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1    agent designated by the agency;
2        (10) to those SHOCAP committee members who fall within
3    the meaning of "state and local officials and authorities",
4    as those terms are used within the meaning of the federal
5    Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, for the purposes
6    of identifying serious habitual juvenile offenders and
7    matching those offenders with community resources pursuant
8    to Section 5-145 of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987, but
9    only to the extent that the release, transfer, disclosure,
10    or dissemination is consistent with the Family Educational
11    Rights and Privacy Act;
12        (11) to the Department of Healthcare and Family
13    Services in furtherance of the requirements of Section
14    2-3.131, 3-14.29, 10-28, or 34-18.26 of the School Code or
15    Section 10 of the School Breakfast and Lunch Program Act;
16    or
17        (12) to the State Board or another State government
18    agency or between or among State government agencies in
19    order to evaluate or audit federal and State programs or
20    perform research and planning, but only to the extent that
21    the release, transfer, disclosure, or dissemination is
22    consistent with the federal Family Educational Rights and
23    Privacy Act (20 U.S.C. 1232g); or .
24        (13) if the student is in the legal custody of the
25    Department of Children and Family Services, the Department
26    or a caseworker of the Department.

 

 

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1    (b) No information may be released pursuant to subparagraph
2(3) or (6) of paragraph (a) of this Section 6 unless the parent
3receives prior written notice of the nature and substance of
4the information proposed to be released, and an opportunity to
5inspect and copy such records in accordance with Section 5 and
6to challenge their contents in accordance with Section 7.
7Provided, however, that such notice shall be sufficient if
8published in a local newspaper of general circulation or other
9publication directed generally to the parents involved where
10the proposed release of information is pursuant to subparagraph
11(6) of paragraph (a) of this Section 6 and relates to more than
1225 students.
13    (c) A record of any release of information pursuant to this
14Section must be made and kept as a part of the school student
15record and subject to the access granted by Section 5. Such
16record of release shall be maintained for the life of the
17school student records and shall be available only to the
18parent and the official records custodian. Each record of
19release shall also include:
20        (1) the nature and substance of the information
21    released;
22        (2) the name and signature of the official records
23    custodian releasing such information;
24        (3) the name of the person requesting such information,
25    the capacity in which such a request has been made, and the
26    purpose of such request;

 

 

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1        (4) the date of the release; and
2        (5) a copy of any consent to such release.
3    (d) Except for the student and his or her parents or, if
4applicable, caseworker, no person to whom information is
5released pursuant to this Section and no person specifically
6designated as a representative by a parent may permit any other
7person to have access to such information without a prior
8consent of the parent obtained in accordance with the
9requirements of subparagraph (8) of paragraph (a) of this
10Section.
11    (e) Nothing contained in this Act shall prohibit the
12publication of student directories which list student names,
13addresses and other identifying information and similar
14publications which comply with regulations issued by the State
15Board.
16(Source: P.A. 99-78, eff. 7-20-15.)
 
17    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
18becoming law.