Sen. Kimberly A. Lightford

Filed: 3/26/2012

 

 


 

 


 
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1
AMENDMENT TO SENATE BILL 3259

2    AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend Senate Bill 3259 as follows:
 
3on page 1, line 5, by replacing "and 26-14" with "26-14, and
426-16"; and
 
5on page 12, immediately below line 17, by inserting the
6following:
 
7    "(105 ILCS 5/26-16)
8    Sec. 26-16. Graduation incentives program.
9    (a) The General Assembly finds that:
10        (1) it is critical to provide options for children to
11    succeed in school;
12        (2) family involvement is essential to keeping
13    children in school, with parents and families serving as
14    valuable resources;
15        (3) educational success promotes workforce opportunity

 

 

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1    and development and builds a strong economic future for
2    Illinois as the economy demands a highly skilled workforce
3    that requires a high school diploma at a minimum;
4        (4) dropping out of school has a profound negative
5    impact on an individual's future potential, resulting in
6    limited job choices, lower wages, and less earned over a
7    person's lifetime than high school graduates;
8        (5) the State currently has programs, including the
9    Illinois Pathways Initiative, the Illinois Shared Learning
10    Environment and Infrastructure, STEM (science, technology,
11    engineering, and math) Learning Exchanges, college and
12    career readiness programs, college and university bridge
13    programs, dual credit and dual enrollment programs,
14    advanced placement courses, alternative schools, and
15    regional safe schools, that are capable of engaging
16    students in learning, providing students with a sense of
17    relevancy in academics, and motivating students to succeed
18    in school in order to earn a high school diploma; and
19        (6) it is also necessary for the State to continue to
20    explore diverse instructional delivery strategies, with
21    the above-mentioned programs, to accommodate various
22    learning styles and focus on statewide dropout
23    intervention and prevention.
24    (a-5) The purpose of this Section is to provide incentives
25for and encourage all Illinois students who have experienced or
26are experiencing difficulty in the traditional education

 

 

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1system to enroll in alternative programs. it is critical to
2provide options for children to succeed in school. The purpose
3of this Section is to provide incentives for and encourage all
4Illinois students who have experienced or are experiencing
5difficulty in the traditional education system to enroll in
6alternative programs.
7    (b) Any student who is below the age of 20 years is
8eligible to enroll in a graduation incentives program if he or
9she:
10        (1) is considered a dropout pursuant to Section 26-2a
11    of this Code;
12        (2) has been suspended or expelled pursuant to Section
13    10-22.6 or 34-19 of this Code;
14        (3) is pregnant or is a parent;
15        (4) has been assessed as chemically dependent; or
16        (5) is enrolled in a bilingual education or LEP
17    program.
18    (c) The following programs qualify as graduation
19incentives programs for students meeting the criteria
20established in this Section:
21        (1) Any public elementary or secondary education
22    graduation incentives program established by a school
23    district or by a regional office of education.
24        (2) Any alternative learning opportunities program
25    established pursuant to Article 13B of this Code.
26        (3) Vocational or job training courses approved by the

 

 

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1    State Superintendent of Education that are available
2    through the Illinois public community college system.
3    Students may apply for reimbursement of 50% of tuition
4    costs for one course per semester or a maximum of 3 courses
5    per school year. Subject to available funds, students may
6    apply for reimbursement of up to 100% of tuition costs upon
7    a showing of employment within 6 months after completion of
8    a vocational or job training program. The qualifications
9    for reimbursement shall be established by the State
10    Superintendent of Education by rule.
11        (4) Job and career programs approved by the State
12    Superintendent of Education that are available through
13    Illinois-accredited private business and vocational
14    schools. Subject to available funds, pupils may apply for
15    reimbursement of up to 100% of tuition costs upon a showing
16    of employment within 6 months after completion of a job or
17    career program. The State Superintendent of Education
18    shall establish, by rule, the qualifications for
19    reimbursement, criteria for determining reimbursement
20    amounts, and limits on reimbursement.
21        (5) Adult education courses that offer preparation for
22    the General Educational Development Test.
23    (d) Graduation incentives programs established by school
24districts are entitled to claim general State aid, subject to
25Sections 13B-50, 13B-50.5, and 13B-50.10 of this Code.
26Graduation incentives programs operated by regional offices of

 

 

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1education are entitled to receive general State aid at the
2foundation level of support per pupil enrolled. A school
3district must ensure that its graduation incentives program
4receives supplemental general State aid, transportation
5reimbursements, and special education resources, if
6appropriate, for students enrolled in the program.
7(Source: P.A. 93-858, eff. 1-1-05; 93-1079, eff. 1-21-05.)".