HB3500 Engrossed LRB094 07158 NHT 37312 b

1     AN ACT relating to education.
 
2     Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3 represented in the General Assembly:
 
4     Section 5. The School Code is amended by changing Section
5 2-3.25d as follows:
 
6     (105 ILCS 5/2-3.25d)  (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.25d)
7     Sec. 2-3.25d. Academic early warning and watch status.
8     (a) Those schools that do not meet adequate yearly progress
9 criteria, as specified by the State Board of Education through
10 the adoption of rules, for 2 consecutive annual calculations,
11 shall be placed on academic early warning status for the next
12 school year. Schools on academic early warning status that do
13 not meet adequate yearly progress criteria for a third annual
14 calculation shall remain on academic early warning status.
15 Schools on academic early warning status that do not meet
16 adequate yearly progress criteria for a fourth annual
17 calculation shall be placed on initial academic watch status.
18 Schools on academic watch status that do not meet adequate
19 yearly progress criteria for a fifth or subsequent annual
20 calculation shall remain on academic watch status. Schools on
21 academic early warning or academic watch status that meet
22 adequate yearly progress criteria for one annual calculation
23 shall be acknowledged for making improvement and shall maintain
24 their current statuses for the next school year. Schools on
25 academic early warning or academic watch status that meet
26 adequate yearly progress criteria for 2 consecutive annual
27 calculations shall be considered as having met expectations and
28 shall be removed from any status designation.
29     The school district of a school placed on either academic
30 early warning status or academic watch status may appeal the
31 status to the State Board of Education in accordance with
32 Section 2-3.25m of this Code.

 

 

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1     A school district that has one or more schools on academic
2 early warning or academic watch status shall prepare a revised
3 School Improvement Plan or amendments thereto setting forth the
4 district's expectations for removing each school from academic
5 early warning or academic watch status and for improving
6 student performance in the affected school or schools.
7 Districts operating under Article 34 of this Code may prepare
8 the School Improvement Plan required under Section 34-2.4 of
9 this Code.
10     The revised School Improvement Plan for a school that is
11 initially placed on academic early warning status or that
12 remains on academic early warning status after a third annual
13 calculation must be approved by the school board (and by the
14 school's local school council in a district operating under
15 Article 34 of this Code, unless the school is on probation
16 pursuant to subsection (c) of Section 34-8.3 of this Code).
17     The revised School Improvement Plan for a school placed on
18 initial academic watch status after a fourth annual calculation
19 must be approved by the school board (and by the school's local
20 school council in a district operating under Article 34 of this
21 Code, unless the school is on probation pursuant to subsection
22 (c) of Section 34-8.3 of this Code) and the State
23 Superintendent of Education.
24     The revised School Improvement Plan for a school that
25 remains on academic watch status after a fifth annual
26 calculation must be approved by the school board (and by the
27 school's local school council in a district operating under
28 Article 34 of this Code, unless the school is on probation
29 pursuant to subsection (c) of Section 34-8.3 of this Code) and
30 the State Superintendent of Education. In addition, the
31 district must develop a school restructuring plan for the
32 school that must be approved by the school board (and by the
33 school's local school council in a district operating under
34 Article 34 of this Code) and subsequently approved by the State
35 Superintendent of Education.
36     A school on academic watch status that does not meet

 

 

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1 adequate yearly progress criteria for a sixth annual
2 calculation shall implement its approved school restructuring
3 plan beginning with the next school year, subject to the State
4 interventions specified in Section 2-3.25f of this Code.
5     (b) Those school districts that do not meet adequate yearly
6 progress criteria, as specified by the State Board of Education
7 through the adoption of rules, for 2 consecutive annual
8 calculations, shall be placed on academic early warning status
9 for the next school year. Districts on academic early warning
10 status that do not meet adequate yearly progress criteria for a
11 third annual calculation shall remain on academic early warning
12 status. Districts on academic early warning status that do not
13 meet adequate yearly progress criteria for a fourth annual
14 calculation shall be placed on initial academic watch status.
15 Districts on academic watch status that do not meet adequate
16 yearly progress criteria for a fifth or subsequent annual
17 calculation shall remain on academic watch status. Districts on
18 academic early warning or academic watch status that meet
19 adequate yearly progress criteria for one annual calculation
20 shall be acknowledged for making improvement and shall maintain
21 their current statuses for the next school year. Districts on
22 academic early warning or academic watch status that meet
23 adequate yearly progress criteria for 2 consecutive annual
24 calculations shall be considered as having met expectations and
25 shall be removed from any status designation.
26     A district placed on either academic early warning status
27 or academic watch status may appeal the status to the State
28 Board of Education in accordance with Section 2-3.25m of this
29 Code.
30     Districts on academic early warning or academic watch
31 status shall prepare a District Improvement Plan or amendments
32 thereto setting forth the district's expectations for removing
33 the district from academic early warning or academic watch
34 status and for improving student performance in the district.
35     The District Improvement Plan for a district that is
36 initially placed on academic early warning status must be

 

 

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1 approved by the school board.
2     The revised District Improvement Plan for a district that
3 remains on academic early warning status after a third annual
4 calculation must be approved by the school board.
5     The revised District Improvement Plan for a district on
6 initial academic watch status after a fourth annual calculation
7 must be approved by the school board and the State
8 Superintendent of Education.
9     The revised District Improvement Plan for a district that
10 remains on academic watch status after a fifth annual
11 calculation must be approved by the school board and the State
12 Superintendent of Education. In addition, the district must
13 develop a district restructuring plan that must be approved by
14 the school board and the State Superintendent of Education.
15     A district on academic watch status that does not meet
16 adequate yearly progress criteria for a sixth annual
17 calculation shall implement its approved district
18 restructuring plan beginning with the next school year, subject
19 to the State interventions specified in Section 2-3.25f of this
20 Code.
21     (b-5) For the purpose of calculating adequate yearly
22 progress under subsections (a) and (b) of this Section by the
23 State, a school district, or a school, a full academic year
24 must be defined as continuous enrollment of a student in the
25 district or school for 176 days of pupil attendance prior to
26 the date of the administration of State assessments. Nothing in
27 this amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly prohibits a
28 school district or school from administering a State assessment
29 to any student for the purpose of assessing the student's
30 mastery of the curriculum.
31     (c) All revised School and District Improvement Plans shall
32 be developed in collaboration with staff in the affected school
33 or school district. All revised School and District Improvement
34 Plans shall be developed, submitted, and approved pursuant to
35 rules adopted by the State Board of Education. The revised
36 Improvement Plan shall address measurable outcomes for

 

 

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1 improving student performance so that such performance meets
2 adequate yearly progress criteria as specified by the State
3 Board of Education.
4     (d) All federal requirements apply to schools and school
5 districts utilizing federal funds under Title I, Part A of the
6 federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.
7     (e) The State Board of Education, from any moneys it may
8 have available for this purpose, must implement and administer
9 a grant program that provides 2-year grants to school districts
10 on the academic watch list and other school districts that have
11 the lowest achieving students, as determined by the State Board
12 of Education, to be used to improve student achievement. In
13 order to receive a grant under this program, a school district
14 must establish an accountability program. The accountability
15 program must involve the use of statewide testing standards and
16 local evaluation measures. A grant shall be automatically
17 renewed when achievement goals are met. The Board may adopt any
18 rules necessary to implement and administer this grant program.
19 (Source: P.A. 93-470, eff. 8-8-03; 93-890, eff. 8-9-04.)
 
20     Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
21 becoming law.