98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2013 and 2014
HB6311

 

Introduced , by Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
105 ILCS 5/2-3.25g  from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.25g
105 ILCS 5/27-6  from Ch. 122, par. 27-6
105 ILCS 5/27-22.05

    Amends the School Code. In provisions allowing for the waiver or modification of mandates within the Code and administrative rules, provides that waivers may not be requested from laws and rules pertaining to physical education. Removes provisions allowing pupils to be excused from engaging in physical education courses for various reasons.


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FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY
STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

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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
52-3.25g, 27-6, and 27-22.05 as follows:
 
6    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.25g)  (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.25g)
7    Sec. 2-3.25g. Waiver or modification of mandates within the
8School Code and administrative rules and regulations.
9    (a) In this Section:
10        "Board" means a school board or the governing board or
11    administrative district, as the case may be, for a joint
12    agreement.
13        "Eligible applicant" means a school district, joint
14    agreement made up of school districts, or regional
15    superintendent of schools on behalf of schools and programs
16    operated by the regional office of education.
17        "Implementation date" has the meaning set forth in
18    Section 24A-2.5 of this Code.
19        "State Board" means the State Board of Education.
20    (b) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this School
21Code or any other law of this State to the contrary, eligible
22applicants may petition the State Board of Education for the
23waiver or modification of the mandates of this School Code or

 

 

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1of the administrative rules and regulations promulgated by the
2State Board of Education. Waivers or modifications of
3administrative rules and regulations and modifications of
4mandates of this School Code may be requested when an eligible
5applicant demonstrates that it can address the intent of the
6rule or mandate in a more effective, efficient, or economical
7manner or when necessary to stimulate innovation or improve
8student performance. Waivers of mandates of the School Code may
9be requested when the waivers are necessary to stimulate
10innovation or improve student performance. Waivers may not be
11requested from laws, rules, and regulations pertaining to
12special education, physical education, teacher educator
13licensure, teacher tenure and seniority, or Section 5-2.1 of
14this Code or from compliance with the No Child Left Behind Act
15of 2001 (Public Law 107-110). Eligible applicants may not seek
16a waiver or seek a modification of a mandate regarding the
17requirements for (i) student performance data to be a
18significant factor in teacher or principal evaluations or (ii)
19for teachers and principals to be rated using the 4 categories
20of "excellent", "proficient", "needs improvement", or
21"unsatisfactory". On September 1, 2014, any previously
22authorized waiver or modification from such requirements shall
23terminate.
24    (c) Eligible applicants, as a matter of inherent managerial
25policy, and any Independent Authority established under
26Section 2-3.25f may submit an application for a waiver or

 

 

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1modification authorized under this Section. Each application
2must include a written request by the eligible applicant or
3Independent Authority and must demonstrate that the intent of
4the mandate can be addressed in a more effective, efficient, or
5economical manner or be based upon a specific plan for improved
6student performance and school improvement. Any eligible
7applicant requesting a waiver or modification for the reason
8that intent of the mandate can be addressed in a more
9economical manner shall include in the application a fiscal
10analysis showing current expenditures on the mandate and
11projected savings resulting from the waiver or modification.
12Applications and plans developed by eligible applicants must be
13approved by the board or regional superintendent of schools
14applying on behalf of schools or programs operated by the
15regional office of education following a public hearing on the
16application and plan and the opportunity for the board or
17regional superintendent to hear testimony from staff directly
18involved in its implementation, parents, and students. The time
19period for such testimony shall be separate from the time
20period established by the eligible applicant for public comment
21on other matters. If the applicant is a school district or
22joint agreement requesting a waiver or modification of Section
2327-6 of this Code, the public hearing shall be held on a day
24other than the day on which a regular meeting of the board is
25held.
26    (c-5) If the applicant is a school district, then the

 

 

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1district shall post information that sets forth the time, date,
2place, and general subject matter of the public hearing on its
3Internet website at least 14 days prior to the hearing. If the
4district is requesting to increase the fee charged for driver
5education authorized pursuant to Section 27-24.2 of this Code,
6the website information shall include the proposed amount of
7the fee the district will request. All school districts must
8publish a notice of the public hearing at least 7 days prior to
9the hearing in a newspaper of general circulation within the
10school district that sets forth the time, date, place, and
11general subject matter of the hearing. Districts requesting to
12increase the fee charged for driver education shall include in
13the published notice the proposed amount of the fee the
14district will request. If the applicant is a joint agreement or
15regional superintendent, then the joint agreement or regional
16superintendent shall post information that sets forth the time,
17date, place, and general subject matter of the public hearing
18on its Internet website at least 14 days prior to the hearing.
19If the joint agreement or regional superintendent is requesting
20to increase the fee charged for driver education authorized
21pursuant to Section 27-24.2 of this Code, the website
22information shall include the proposed amount of the fee the
23applicant will request. All joint agreements and regional
24superintendents must publish a notice of the public hearing at
25least 7 days prior to the hearing in a newspaper of general
26circulation in each school district that is a member of the

 

 

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1joint agreement or that is served by the educational service
2region that sets forth the time, date, place, and general
3subject matter of the hearing, provided that a notice appearing
4in a newspaper generally circulated in more than one school
5district shall be deemed to fulfill this requirement with
6respect to all of the affected districts. Joint agreements or
7regional superintendents requesting to increase the fee
8charged for driver education shall include in the published
9notice the proposed amount of the fee the applicant will
10request. The eligible applicant must notify in writing the
11affected exclusive collective bargaining agent and those State
12legislators representing the eligible applicant's territory of
13its intent to seek approval of a waiver or modification and of
14the hearing to be held to take testimony from staff. The
15affected exclusive collective bargaining agents shall be
16notified of such public hearing at least 7 days prior to the
17date of the hearing and shall be allowed to attend such public
18hearing. The eligible applicant shall attest to compliance with
19all of the notification and procedural requirements set forth
20in this Section.
21    (d) A request for a waiver or modification of
22administrative rules and regulations or for a modification of
23mandates contained in this School Code shall be submitted to
24the State Board of Education within 15 days after approval by
25the board or regional superintendent of schools. The
26application as submitted to the State Board of Education shall

 

 

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1include a description of the public hearing. Except with
2respect to contracting for adaptive driver education, an
3eligible applicant wishing to request a modification or waiver
4of administrative rules of the State Board of Education
5regarding contracting with a commercial driver training school
6to provide the course of study authorized under Section 27-24.2
7of this Code must provide evidence with its application that
8the commercial driver training school with which it will
9contract holds a license issued by the Secretary of State under
10Article IV of Chapter 6 of the Illinois Vehicle Code and that
11each instructor employed by the commercial driver training
12school to provide instruction to students served by the school
13district holds a valid teaching certificate or teaching
14license, as applicable, issued under the requirements of this
15Code and rules of the State Board of Education. Such evidence
16must include, but need not be limited to, a list of each
17instructor assigned to teach students served by the school
18district, which list shall include the instructor's name,
19personal identification number as required by the State Board
20of Education, birth date, and driver's license number. If the
21modification or waiver is granted, then the eligible applicant
22shall notify the State Board of Education of any changes in the
23personnel providing instruction within 15 calendar days after
24an instructor leaves the program or a new instructor is hired.
25Such notification shall include the instructor's name,
26personal identification number as required by the State Board

 

 

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1of Education, birth date, and driver's license number. If a
2school district maintains an Internet website, then the
3district shall post a copy of the final contract between the
4district and the commercial driver training school on the
5district's Internet website. If no Internet website exists,
6then the district shall make available the contract upon
7request. A record of all materials in relation to the
8application for contracting must be maintained by the school
9district and made available to parents and guardians upon
10request. The instructor's date of birth and driver's license
11number and any other personally identifying information as
12deemed by the federal Driver's Privacy Protection Act of 1994
13must be redacted from any public materials. Following receipt
14of the waiver or modification request, the State Board shall
15have 45 days to review the application and request. If the
16State Board fails to disapprove the application within that 45
17day period, the waiver or modification shall be deemed granted.
18The State Board may disapprove any request if it is not based
19upon sound educational practices, endangers the health or
20safety of students or staff, compromises equal opportunities
21for learning, or fails to demonstrate that the intent of the
22rule or mandate can be addressed in a more effective,
23efficient, or economical manner or have improved student
24performance as a primary goal. Any request disapproved by the
25State Board may be appealed to the General Assembly by the
26eligible applicant as outlined in this Section.

 

 

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1    A request for a waiver from mandates contained in this
2School Code shall be submitted to the State Board within 15
3days after approval by the board or regional superintendent of
4schools. The application as submitted to the State Board of
5Education shall include a description of the public hearing.
6The description shall include, but need not be limited to, the
7means of notice, the number of people in attendance, the number
8of people who spoke as proponents or opponents of the waiver, a
9brief description of their comments, and whether there were any
10written statements submitted. The State Board shall review the
11applications and requests for completeness and shall compile
12the requests in reports to be filed with the General Assembly.
13The State Board shall file reports outlining the waivers
14requested by eligible applicants and appeals by eligible
15applicants of requests disapproved by the State Board with the
16Senate and the House of Representatives before each March 1 and
17October 1. The General Assembly may disapprove the report of
18the State Board in whole or in part within 60 calendar days
19after each house of the General Assembly next convenes after
20the report is filed by adoption of a resolution by a record
21vote of the majority of members elected in each house. If the
22General Assembly fails to disapprove any waiver request or
23appealed request within such 60 day period, the waiver or
24modification shall be deemed granted. Any resolution adopted by
25the General Assembly disapproving a report of the State Board
26in whole or in part shall be binding on the State Board.

 

 

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1    (e) An approved waiver or modification (except a waiver
2from or modification to a physical education mandate) may
3remain in effect for a period not to exceed 5 school years and
4may be renewed upon application by the eligible applicant.
5However, such waiver or modification may be changed within that
65-year period by a board or regional superintendent of schools
7applying on behalf of schools or programs operated by the
8regional office of education following the procedure as set
9forth in this Section for the initial waiver or modification
10request. If neither the State Board of Education nor the
11General Assembly disapproves, the change is deemed granted.
12    An approved waiver from or modification to a physical
13education mandate may remain in effect for a period not to
14exceed 2 school years and may be renewed no more than 2 times
15upon application by the eligible applicant. An approved waiver
16from or modification to a physical education mandate may be
17changed within the 2-year period by the board or regional
18superintendent of schools, whichever is applicable, following
19the procedure set forth in this Section for the initial waiver
20or modification request. If neither the State Board of
21Education nor the General Assembly disapproves, the change is
22deemed granted.
23    (f) (Blank).
24(Source: P.A. 97-1025, eff. 1-1-13; 98-513, eff. 1-1-14;
2598-739, eff. 7-16-14.)
 

 

 

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1    (105 ILCS 5/27-6)  (from Ch. 122, par. 27-6)
2    Sec. 27-6. Courses in physical education required; special
3activities. (a) Pupils enrolled in the public schools and State
4universities engaged in preparing teachers shall be required to
5engage daily during the school day, except on block scheduled
6days for those public schools engaged in block scheduling, in
7courses of physical education for such periods as are
8compatible with the optimum growth and developmental needs of
9individuals at the various age levels except when appropriate
10excuses are submitted to the school by a pupil's parent or
11guardian or by a person licensed under the Medical Practice Act
12of 1987 and except as provided in subsection (b) of this
13Section.
14    Special activities in physical education shall be provided
15for pupils whose physical or emotional condition, as determined
16by a person licensed under the Medical Practice Act of 1987,
17prevents their participation in the courses provided for normal
18children.
19    (b) A school board is authorized to excuse pupils enrolled
20in grades 11 and 12 from engaging in physical education courses
21if those pupils request to be excused for any of the following
22reasons: (1) for ongoing participation in an interscholastic
23athletic program; (2) to enroll in academic classes which are
24required for admission to an institution of higher learning,
25provided that failure to take such classes will result in the
26pupil being denied admission to the institution of his or her

 

 

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1choice; or (3) to enroll in academic classes which are required
2for graduation from high school, provided that failure to take
3such classes will result in the pupil being unable to graduate.
4A school board may also excuse pupils in grades 9 through 12
5enrolled in a marching band program for credit from engaging in
6physical education courses if those pupils request to be
7excused for ongoing participation in such marching band
8program. In addition, a pupil in any of grades 3 through 12 who
9is eligible for special education may be excused if the pupil's
10parent or guardian agrees that the pupil must utilize the time
11set aside for physical education to receive special education
12support and services or, if there is no agreement, the
13individualized education program team for the pupil determines
14that the pupil must utilize the time set aside for physical
15education to receive special education support and services,
16which agreement or determination must be made a part of the
17individualized education program. However, a pupil requiring
18adapted physical education must receive that service in
19accordance with the individualized education program developed
20for the pupil. If requested, a school board is authorized to
21excuse a pupil from engaging in a physical education course if
22the pupil has an individualized educational program under
23Article 14 of this Code, is participating in an adaptive
24athletic program outside of the school setting, and documents
25such participation as determined by the school board. A school
26board may also excuse pupils in grades 9 through 12 enrolled in

 

 

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1a Reserve Officer's Training Corps (ROTC) program sponsored by
2the school district from engaging in physical education
3courses. School boards which choose to exercise this authority
4shall establish a policy to excuse pupils on an individual
5basis.
6    (c) The provisions of this Section are subject to the
7provisions of Section 27-22.05.
8(Source: P.A. 98-116, eff. 7-29-13.)
 
9    (105 ILCS 5/27-22.05)
10    Sec. 27-22.05. Required course substitute. Notwithstanding
11any other provision of this Article or this Code, a school
12board that maintains any of grades 9 through 12 is authorized
13to adopt a policy under which a student who is enrolled in any
14of those grades may satisfy one or more high school course or
15graduation requirements, including, but not limited to, any
16requirements under Section Sections 27-6 and 27-22 of this
17Code, but excluding any requirements under Section 27-6 of this
18Code, by substituting for and successfully completing in place
19of the high school course or graduation requirement a related
20vocational or technical education course. A vocational or
21technical education course shall not qualify as a related
22vocational or technical education course within the meaning of
23this Section unless it contains at least 50% of the content of
24the required course or graduation requirement for which it is
25substituted, as determined by the State Board of Education in

 

 

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1accordance with standards that it shall adopt and uniformly
2apply for purposes of this Section. No vocational or technical
3education course may be substituted for a required course or
4graduation requirement under any policy adopted by a school
5board as authorized in this Section unless the pupil's parent
6or guardian first requests the substitution and approves it in
7writing on forms that the school district makes available for
8purposes of this Section.
9(Source: P.A. 88-269.)