94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2005 and 2006
HB4974

 

Introduced 1/20/2006, by Rep. Michael K. Smith

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
105 ILCS 5/2-3.136

    Amends the School Code. Creates a pilot class size reduction grant program, to be implemented and administered by the State Board of Education. Provides that grants shall be awarded to schools to defray the costs and expenses of operating and maintaining classes of no more than 15 pupils per teacher per class. Effective July 1, 2006.


LRB094 19087 NHT 54596 b

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB4974 LRB094 19087 NHT 54596 b

1     AN ACT concerning 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 2-3.136 as follows:
 
6     (105 ILCS 5/2-3.136)
7     Sec. 2-3.136. Class K-3 class size reduction grant programs
8 program.
9     (a) A K-3 class size reduction grant program is created.
10 The program shall be implemented and administered by the State
11 Board of Education. From appropriations made for purposes of
12 this Section, the State Board shall award grants to schools
13 that meet the criteria established by this subsection (a)
14 Section for the award of those grants.
15     Grants shall be awarded pursuant to application. The form
16 and manner of applications and the criteria for the award of
17 grants shall be prescribed by the State Board of Education. The
18 grant criteria as so prescribed, however, shall provide that
19 only those schools that are on the State Board of Education
20 Early Academic Warning List or the academic watch list under
21 Section 2-3.25d that maintain grades kindergarten through 3 are
22 grant eligible.
23     Grants awarded to eligible schools under this subsection
24 (a) Section shall be used and applied by the schools to defray
25 the costs and expenses of operating and maintaining classes in
26 grades kindergarten through 3 with an average class size within
27 a specific grade of no more than 20 pupils. If a school's
28 facilities are inadequate to allow for this specified class
29 size, then a school may use the grant funds for teacher aides
30 instead.
31     (b) A pilot class size reduction grant program is created.
32 The program shall be implemented and administered by the State

 

 

HB4974 - 2 - LRB094 19087 NHT 54596 b

1 Board of Education. From appropriations made for purposes of
2 this subsection (b), the State Board shall award grants to
3 schools that meet the criteria established by this Section for
4 the award of those grants.
5     Grants shall be awarded pursuant to application. The form
6 and manner of application and the criteria for the award of
7 grants shall be prescribed by the State Board of Education.
8     Grants awarded to eligible schools under this subsection
9 (b) shall be used and applied by the schools to defray the
10 costs and expenses of operating and maintaining classes of no
11 more than 15 pupils per teacher per class. A teacher aide may
12 not be used to meet this requirement.
13     (c) If a school board determines that a school is using
14 funds awarded under this Section for purposes not authorized by
15 this Section, then the school board, rather than the school,
16 shall determine how the funds are used.
17     (d) The State Board of Education shall adopt any rules,
18 consistent with the requirements of this Section, that are
19 necessary to implement and administer the K-3 class size
20 reduction grant programs program.
21 (Source: P.A. 93-814, eff. 7-27-04; 94-566, eff. 1-1-06.)
 
22     Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1,
23 2006.