99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2015 and 2016
SB3422

 

Introduced 4/18/2016, by Sen. Karen McConnaughay

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
New Act
105 ILCS 5/2-3.25g  from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.25g

    Creates the School Districts of Innovation Act, the purpose of which is to grant school districts greater autonomy to implement innovative practices that improve student academic performance and benefit the whole child by removing obstacles that currently exist in law or rules. Provides that school districts seeking to obtain designation as a district of innovation from the State Superintendent of Education must establish an innovation committee to develop an innovation plan; sets forth provisions concerning the committee and plan. Contains provisions concerning statutory and regulatory mandates; innovation plan submission and designation; financial support for innovation planning; district of innovation review, renewal, and revocation; reporting; and rulemaking. Effective immediately.


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FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

 

 

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 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the School
5Districts of Innovation Act.
 
6    Section 5. Purpose. The purpose of this Act is to grant
7school districts greater autonomy to implement innovative
8practices that improve student academic performance and
9benefit the whole child by removing obstacles that currently
10exist in law or rules.
 
11    Section 10. Definitions. In this Act:
12    "District of innovation" means a school district that has
13received such designation by the State Superintendent in
14accordance with this Act.
15    "High-achieving district" means a school district that is
16closing achievement gaps and has demonstrated significant
17student growth as provided in Section 2-3.25c of the School
18Code.
19    "Innovation" means a new or creative alternative to
20existing instructional and administrative practices that is
21intended to improve academic performance and learning outcomes
22for students.

 

 

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1    "Innovation committee" means a committee of
2representatives of the school district convened and operating
3in accordance with Section 15 of this Act.
4    "School district" means a public school district in this
5State, excluding vocational schools and special education
6cooperatives.
7    "State Superintendent" means the State Superintendent of
8Education.
 
9    Section 15. Innovation committee.
10    (a) School districts seeking to obtain designation as a
11district of innovation must establish an innovation committee
12that shall operate pursuant to the provisions of this Act. The
13innovation committee shall consist of all of the following
14individuals:
15        (1) The school district superintendent or his or her
16    designee.
17        (2) The president of the school district's school board
18    or his or her designee.
19        (3) One principal of a building in the school district,
20    appointed by the school district superintendent.
21        (4) Two teachers employed by the school district,
22    appointed by the exclusive bargaining representative of
23    the school district's teachers. If no exclusive bargaining
24    representative exists, then the school district
25    superintendent shall appoint the 2 teacher

 

 

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1    representatives.
2        (5) One employee of the school district defined as
3    school personnel under subsection (b) of Section 27-23.7 of
4    the School Code, other than the school district
5    superintendent, a principal, or a teacher, appointed by the
6    exclusive bargaining representative of the school
7    personnel. If no exclusive bargaining representative
8    exists, then the school district superintendent shall
9    appoint the school personnel representative.
10        (6) Two individuals not employed by the school district
11    who reside in the geographic boundaries of the school
12    district, appointed by the school district superintendent.
13        (7) Two parents of students enrolled in the school
14    district, appointed by the school district's parent
15    organization or organizations. If no parent organization
16    exists, then the parent representatives shall be appointed
17    by the school district superintendent.
18        (8) One student who is enrolled in the school district,
19    appointed by the school district superintendent.
20        (9) The regional superintendent of schools who holds
21    supervision and control over the school district or his or
22    her designee.
23    (b) The innovation committee shall develop a public
24participation process for requesting and reviewing proposals
25from members of the broader school community in the school
26district.

 

 

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1    (c) The innovation committee may create subcommittees,
2which may include non-committee members with specific
3expertise, to work on developing portions of the innovation
4plan under Section 20 of this Act.
 
5    Section 20. Innovation plan proposal.
6    (a) The innovation committee established under Section 15
7of this Act shall develop an innovation plan, which shall
8outline the school district's proposal for improving student
9academic performance through innovation. The plan may identify
10mandates in Chapter 105 of the Illinois Compiled Statutes and
11applicable implementing rules that the innovation committee
12considers to be obstacles to achieving or maintaining high
13student performance and request to be exempted from those
14mandates. The plan shall be developed with significant input
15from the broader school district community.
16    (b) The innovation plan shall contain elements prescribed
17in the following:
18        (1) The goals or performance outcomes the school
19    district expects to achieve as a result of being designated
20    a district of innovation. The goals need to be ambitious,
21    but achievable, and improve performance at or above that
22    expected by State and federal accountability systems. The
23    measurable goals shall provide a basis for renewing or
24    modifying the innovation plan at the end of the period of
25    authorization and shall address one or more of the

 

 

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1    following areas:
2            (A) All students in kindergarten are assessed for
3        readiness.
4            (B) Ninety percent or more of third-grade students
5        are reading at or above grade level.
6            (C) Ninety percent or more of fifth-grade students
7        meet or exceed expectations in mathematics.
8            (D) Ninety percent or more of ninth-grade students
9        are on track to graduate with their cohort.
10            (E) Ninety percent or more students graduate from
11        high school ready for college and a career.
12            (F) All students are supported by highly prepared
13        and effective teachers and school leaders.
14            (G) Every school offers a safe and healthy learning
15        environment for all students.
16        (2) A description of the unique operational policies
17    and procedures that will be implemented in the district of
18    innovation and how such policies and procedures will
19    support the annual goals identified in the innovation plan.
20        (3) Specific requests for flexibility regarding
21    specific statutory or regulatory mandates. Such requests
22    must describe in detail the types of flexibility that will
23    be utilized and why such flexibility is necessary to
24    achieving the goals of the plan.
25        (4) Documentation of the collaborative process in
26    which the plan was developed.

 

 

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1        (5) Documentation of the approval of the plan by the
2    teachers in the school district. A majority of school
3    district employees licensed under Article 21B of the School
4    Code shall vote in the positive to support the plan before
5    submission for approval. The school board shall develop a
6    procedure regarding the voting of an innovation plan in
7    conjunction with the exclusive bargaining representative
8    of that school district, if applicable.
9        (6) A budget plan that describes how funds will be used
10    differently in the proposed district of innovation.
11        (7) Any other information requested by the regional
12    superintendent of schools or the State Superintendent.
13    (c) A school district may seek autonomy through innovation
14in any of the following areas, but need not be limited to the
15following:
16        (1) Flexibility to demonstrate measurable improvement
17    among subgroups of students, including low-income
18    students, English learners, or students receiving special
19    education services.
20        (2) Flexibility to demonstrate reduction of
21    achievement gaps among different groups of students.
22        (3) Flexibility to meet the graduation requirements
23    set by this State, with an emphasis on using
24    competency-based, performance-based assessments at the
25    local level.
26        (4) Flexibility to structure professional development

 

 

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1    activities according to the needs of the students, staff,
2    and faculty of the school district. This may include any of
3    the following:
4            (A) Modifying or transforming the structure or
5        content of professional development activities to meet
6        the specific needs of the school district's student
7        population, regardless of the school district's
8        professional development activities.
9            (B) Restructuring the daily schedule in order to
10        fully integrate professional development into the
11        daily collaboration of teachers within the school
12        district.
13            (C) Ongoing and high-quality professional
14        development opportunities designed to achieve the
15        goals identified in the innovation plan for all staff
16        members.
17        (5) Flexibility to manage staff members as needed in
18    order to create a healthy school community. This may
19    include, but need not be limited to, any of the following:
20            (A) Establishing staffing patterns and creating
21        job descriptions that best meet the academic, social,
22        and emotional needs of students, with approved
23        exemptions from Article 21B of the School Code.
24            (B) Hiring staff that best fit the needs of the
25        school district.
26            (C) Providing services, including services for

 

 

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1        gifted and talented students, services for English
2        learners, educational services for students at risk of
3        academic failure, expulsion, or dropping out, and
4        support services provided by the Department of Human
5        Services or county social services agencies.
6            (D) Faculty recruitment, preparation and
7        professional development, and compensation, which may
8        include the ability to conduct independent recruitment
9        and hiring processes, the design of professional
10        development, the use of peer-based evaluations, or the
11        implementation of a site-based pay incentive program.
12            (E) Preparation and counseling of students for the
13        transition to higher education or the workforce.
14            (F) Accountability measures, including expanding
15        the use of a variety of accountability measures, such
16        as graduation or exit examinations, student portfolio
17        reviews, competency-based pathways, or student and
18        parent accountability contracts.
19        (6) Flexibility to set longer school days and calendar
20    years for both students and faculty and scheduling that
21    allows for faculty planning time during the summer and
22    school year that may contribute to a more unified school
23    community. This may include increasing planning and
24    professional development time for faculty.
 
25    Section 25. Statutory and regulatory mandates. School

 

 

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1districts shall not be relieved from any of the following
2statutory or regulatory mandates:
3        (1) The Illinois Learning Standards established by the
4    State Board of Education.
5        (2) Accountability measures pursuant to Section
6    2-3.25a of the School Code.
7        (3) Student achievement on the annual State
8    assessments as required by Section 2-3.64a-5 of the School
9    Code.
10        (4) Provisions of the federal Every Student Succeeds
11    Act.
12        (5) Mandates required to maintain federal grant
13    awards.
14        (6) Provisions outside of Chapter 105 of the Illinois
15    Compiled Statutes or their implementing rules.
16        (7) Non-curricular health and safety requirements.
17        (8) Mandates related to civil rights and student access
18    to district educational and non-educational programs.
19        (9) Mandates contained in Article 24 or 24A of the
20    School Code or their implementing rules.
21    No provision of this Act relieves or compromises any
22party's rights or obligations under the Illinois Educational
23Labor Relations Act.
 
24    Section 30. Innovation plan submission and designation.
25    (a) A school district seeking designation as a district of

 

 

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1innovation must develop an innovation plan in accordance with
2this Act.
3    (b) A school board shall post the innovation plan approved
4by the innovation committee and eligible employees on the
5school district's public Internet website for 30 days prior to
6a final vote on the plan. A majority vote of the school board
7is required at a regularly scheduled school board meeting to
8approve the plan. If more than one school district is included
9in the innovation plan, each school board must approve the
10plan.
11    (c) Once a school board has approved an innovation plan,
12the plan shall be submitted for review to the regional
13superintendent of schools that holds supervision and control
14over the district. An innovation plan for a school district
15organized under Article 34 of the School Code shall be
16submitted directly to the State Superintendent.
17    (d) The regional superintendent of schools shall certify
18that, at a minimum, the following provisions have been
19addressed:
20        (1) the overall vision for the school district,
21    including improving school performance and student
22    achievement related to the measurable goals prescribed in
23    Section 20 of this Act;
24        (2) the specific needs or challenges the district of
25    innovation will be designed to address;
26        (3) the number of students the district of innovation

 

 

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1    is anticipated to serve and the number of staff expected to
2    be employed within the district of innovation;
3        (4) an assessment of the autonomy and flexibility that
4    the school district is seeking;
5        (5) why the flexibility is desirable to carry out the
6    objectives of the school district;
7        (6) a description of the process that was used to
8    involve appropriate stakeholders in the development of the
9    innovation plan; and
10        (7) a proposed timetable for development and
11    establishment of the district of innovation.
12    (e) The regional superintendent of schools shall certify
13that a school district's innovation plan contains the
14specifications and satisfies the requirements of this Act and,
15if so, shall submit the innovation plan to the State
16Superintendent within 30 calendar days after receipt of the
17innovation plan.
18    (f) The State Superintendent may approve or deny a school
19district's innovation plan within 45 days after receipt. If the
20State Superintendent fails to act within 45 days, the
21innovation plan shall be deemed approved by the State
22Superintendent.
23    (g) Districts of innovation are exempt from the School Code
24waiver process under Section 2-3.25g of the School Code and
25applicable rules. This exemption applies only to those items
26approved in the innovation plan.

 

 

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1    (h) A school district designated as a district of
2innovation shall have its innovation plan approved for a 2-year
3period, renewable for subsequent 2-year periods, as determined
4by the State Superintendent and based on reviews conducted by
5the applicable regional superintendent of schools, in
6accordance with Section 40 of this Act. A school district
7designated as a high-achieving district and awarded a
8designation as a district of innovation shall have its
9innovation plan approved for a 4-year period, renewable for
10subsequent 4-year periods.
 
11    Section 35. Financial support for innovation planning.
12Each school district and school board is authorized and
13encouraged to seek and accept public and private gifts, grants,
14and donations to offset the costs of developing and
15implementing innovation plans and plans for creating districts
16of innovation.
 
17    Section 40. District of innovation review, renewal, and
18revocation.
19    (a) Regional superintendents of schools that hold
20supervision and control over one or more districts of
21innovation shall evaluate districts of innovation every 2 years
22or, in the case of a high-achieving district, every 4 years.
23The evaluation is to determine progress on goals articulated in
24the school district's innovation plan and to assess

 

 

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1implementation. The regional superintendent of schools shall
2transmit the evaluation to the district of innovation and the
3State Superintendent.
4    The review shall assess progress on specific goals related
5to the following:
6        (1) All students in kindergarten are assessed for
7    readiness.
8        (2) Ninety percent or more third-grade students are
9    reading at or above grade level.
10        (3) Ninety percent or more fifth-grade students meet or
11    exceed expectations in mathematics.
12        (4) Ninety percent or more of ninth-grade students are
13    on track to graduate with their cohort.
14        (5) Ninety percent or more students graduate from high
15    school ready for college and a career.
16        (6) All students are supported by highly prepared and
17    effective teachers and school leaders.
18        (7) Every school offers a safe and healthy learning
19    environment for all students.
20    Reviews may include feedback collected from focus groups of
21staff, students, and families, as well as community partners,
22and a review of student work and exhibitions.
23    (b) Districts of innovation may seek renewal at the end of
24the initial 2-year approval period or 4-year approval period in
25the case of high-achieving districts. Requests for renewal
26shall be made to the regional superintendents of schools that

 

 

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1hold supervision and control over the district of innovation at
2the time of the 2-year or 4-year review. Regional
3superintendents of schools shall include the renewal request in
4the evaluation transmitted to the district of innovation and
5the State Superintendent.
6    The State Superintendent may grant renewal of a district of
7innovation designation if sufficient progress has been made in
8achieving the goals as prescribed in the innovation plan.
9    A district of innovation may submit amendments or revisions
10to an existing innovation plan considered for renewal to the
11regional superintendent of schools for certification and
12transmittal to the State Superintendent for approval. If the
13proposed changes make substantive changes to the innovation
14plan, the initial approval process outlined in Section 20 of
15this Act must be followed.
16    (c) The State Superintendent may revoke the district of
17innovation designation if a district of innovation fails to
18substantially fulfill the innovation plan, meet goals and
19performance targets, or comply with applicable laws or rules.
20    The State Superintendent shall notify a district of
21innovation of a decision to revoke the school district's
22district of innovation designation within 15 days after such
23decision. The State Superintendent shall communicate the
24reasons for the revocation to the school district. The
25innovation committee may amend and resubmit the innovation plan
26to begin the process described in Section 30 of this Act.
 

 

 

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1    Section 80. Reporting. The State Board of Education shall
2submit a report to the Governor and General Assembly regarding
3the participation and outcomes of this Act on or before
4December 15, 2017 and annually on or before December 15
5thereafter. A comprehensive report that includes measurements
6of demonstrated student achievement and college and career
7readiness in districts of innovation shall be submitted to the
8Governor and General Assembly on or before December 15, 2023.
9    Districts of innovation must provide any and all data
10requested by the State Board of Education to generate reports
11under this Section.
 
12    Section 85. Rules. The State Board of Education may adopt
13rules as necessary to implement this Act.
 
14    Section 90. The School Code is amended by changing Section
152-3.25g as follows:
 
16    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.25g)  (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.25g)
17    Sec. 2-3.25g. Waiver or modification of mandates within the
18School Code and administrative rules and regulations.
19    (a) In this Section:
20        "Board" means a school board or the governing board or
21    administrative district, as the case may be, for a joint
22    agreement.

 

 

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1        "Eligible applicant" means a school district, joint
2    agreement made up of school districts, or regional
3    superintendent of schools on behalf of schools and programs
4    operated by the regional office of education.
5        "Implementation date" has the meaning set forth in
6    Section 24A-2.5 of this Code.
7        "State Board" means the State Board of Education.
8    (b) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this School
9Code or any other law of this State to the contrary, eligible
10applicants may petition the State Board of Education for the
11waiver or modification of the mandates of this School Code or
12of the administrative rules and regulations promulgated by the
13State Board of Education. Waivers or modifications of
14administrative rules and regulations and modifications of
15mandates of this School Code may be requested when an eligible
16applicant demonstrates that it can address the intent of the
17rule or mandate in a more effective, efficient, or economical
18manner or when necessary to stimulate innovation or improve
19student performance. Waivers of mandates of the School Code may
20be requested when the waivers are necessary to stimulate
21innovation or improve student performance. Waivers may not be
22requested from laws, rules, and regulations pertaining to
23special education, teacher educator licensure, teacher tenure
24and seniority, or Section 5-2.1 of this Code or from compliance
25with the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (Public Law 107-110).
26Eligible applicants may not seek a waiver or seek a

 

 

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1modification of a mandate regarding the requirements for (i)
2student performance data to be a significant factor in teacher
3or principal evaluations or (ii) teachers and principals to be
4rated using the 4 categories of "excellent", "proficient",
5"needs improvement", or "unsatisfactory". On September 1,
62014, any previously authorized waiver or modification from
7such requirements shall terminate.
8    (c) Eligible applicants, as a matter of inherent managerial
9policy, and any Independent Authority established under
10Section 2-3.25f-5 of this Code may submit an application for a
11waiver or modification authorized under this Section. Each
12application must include a written request by the eligible
13applicant or Independent Authority and must demonstrate that
14the intent of the mandate can be addressed in a more effective,
15efficient, or economical manner or be based upon a specific
16plan for improved student performance and school improvement.
17Any eligible applicant requesting a waiver or modification for
18the reason that intent of the mandate can be addressed in a
19more economical manner shall include in the application a
20fiscal analysis showing current expenditures on the mandate and
21projected savings resulting from the waiver or modification.
22Applications and plans developed by eligible applicants must be
23approved by the board or regional superintendent of schools
24applying on behalf of schools or programs operated by the
25regional office of education following a public hearing on the
26application and plan and the opportunity for the board or

 

 

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1regional superintendent to hear testimony from staff directly
2involved in its implementation, parents, and students. The time
3period for such testimony shall be separate from the time
4period established by the eligible applicant for public comment
5on other matters. If the applicant is a school district or
6joint agreement requesting a waiver or modification of Section
727-6 of this Code, the public hearing shall be held on a day
8other than the day on which a regular meeting of the board is
9held.
10    (c-5) If the applicant is a school district, then the
11district shall post information that sets forth the time, date,
12place, and general subject matter of the public hearing on its
13Internet website at least 14 days prior to the hearing. If the
14district is requesting to increase the fee charged for driver
15education authorized pursuant to Section 27-24.2 of this Code,
16the website information shall include the proposed amount of
17the fee the district will request. All school districts must
18publish a notice of the public hearing at least 7 days prior to
19the hearing in a newspaper of general circulation within the
20school district that sets forth the time, date, place, and
21general subject matter of the hearing. Districts requesting to
22increase the fee charged for driver education shall include in
23the published notice the proposed amount of the fee the
24district will request. If the applicant is a joint agreement or
25regional superintendent, then the joint agreement or regional
26superintendent shall post information that sets forth the time,

 

 

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1date, place, and general subject matter of the public hearing
2on its Internet website at least 14 days prior to the hearing.
3If the joint agreement or regional superintendent is requesting
4to increase the fee charged for driver education authorized
5pursuant to Section 27-24.2 of this Code, the website
6information shall include the proposed amount of the fee the
7applicant will request. All joint agreements and regional
8superintendents must publish a notice of the public hearing at
9least 7 days prior to the hearing in a newspaper of general
10circulation in each school district that is a member of the
11joint agreement or that is served by the educational service
12region that sets forth the time, date, place, and general
13subject matter of the hearing, provided that a notice appearing
14in a newspaper generally circulated in more than one school
15district shall be deemed to fulfill this requirement with
16respect to all of the affected districts. Joint agreements or
17regional superintendents requesting to increase the fee
18charged for driver education shall include in the published
19notice the proposed amount of the fee the applicant will
20request. The eligible applicant must notify in writing the
21affected exclusive collective bargaining agent and those State
22legislators representing the eligible applicant's territory of
23its intent to seek approval of a waiver or modification and of
24the hearing to be held to take testimony from staff. The
25affected exclusive collective bargaining agents shall be
26notified of such public hearing at least 7 days prior to the

 

 

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1date of the hearing and shall be allowed to attend such public
2hearing. The eligible applicant shall attest to compliance with
3all of the notification and procedural requirements set forth
4in this Section.
5    (d) A request for a waiver or modification of
6administrative rules and regulations or for a modification of
7mandates contained in this School Code shall be submitted to
8the State Board of Education within 15 days after approval by
9the board or regional superintendent of schools. The
10application as submitted to the State Board of Education shall
11include a description of the public hearing. Except with
12respect to contracting for adaptive driver education, an
13eligible applicant wishing to request a modification or waiver
14of administrative rules of the State Board of Education
15regarding contracting with a commercial driver training school
16to provide the course of study authorized under Section 27-24.2
17of this Code must provide evidence with its application that
18the commercial driver training school with which it will
19contract holds a license issued by the Secretary of State under
20Article IV of Chapter 6 of the Illinois Vehicle Code and that
21each instructor employed by the commercial driver training
22school to provide instruction to students served by the school
23district holds a valid teaching certificate or teaching
24license, as applicable, issued under the requirements of this
25Code and rules of the State Board of Education. Such evidence
26must include, but need not be limited to, a list of each

 

 

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1instructor assigned to teach students served by the school
2district, which list shall include the instructor's name,
3personal identification number as required by the State Board
4of Education, birth date, and driver's license number. If the
5modification or waiver is granted, then the eligible applicant
6shall notify the State Board of Education of any changes in the
7personnel providing instruction within 15 calendar days after
8an instructor leaves the program or a new instructor is hired.
9Such notification shall include the instructor's name,
10personal identification number as required by the State Board
11of Education, birth date, and driver's license number. If a
12school district maintains an Internet website, then the
13district shall post a copy of the final contract between the
14district and the commercial driver training school on the
15district's Internet website. If no Internet website exists,
16then the district shall make available the contract upon
17request. A record of all materials in relation to the
18application for contracting must be maintained by the school
19district and made available to parents and guardians upon
20request. The instructor's date of birth and driver's license
21number and any other personally identifying information as
22deemed by the federal Driver's Privacy Protection Act of 1994
23must be redacted from any public materials. Following receipt
24of the waiver or modification request, the State Board shall
25have 45 days to review the application and request. If the
26State Board fails to disapprove the application within that 45

 

 

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1day period, the waiver or modification shall be deemed granted.
2The State Board may disapprove any request if it is not based
3upon sound educational practices, endangers the health or
4safety of students or staff, compromises equal opportunities
5for learning, or fails to demonstrate that the intent of the
6rule or mandate can be addressed in a more effective,
7efficient, or economical manner or have improved student
8performance as a primary goal. Any request disapproved by the
9State Board may be appealed to the General Assembly by the
10eligible applicant as outlined in this Section.
11    A request for a waiver from mandates contained in this
12School Code shall be submitted to the State Board within 15
13days after approval by the board or regional superintendent of
14schools. The application as submitted to the State Board of
15Education shall include a description of the public hearing.
16The description shall include, but need not be limited to, the
17means of notice, the number of people in attendance, the number
18of people who spoke as proponents or opponents of the waiver, a
19brief description of their comments, and whether there were any
20written statements submitted. The State Board shall review the
21applications and requests for completeness and shall compile
22the requests in reports to be filed with the General Assembly.
23The State Board shall file reports outlining the waivers
24requested by eligible applicants and appeals by eligible
25applicants of requests disapproved by the State Board with the
26Senate and the House of Representatives before each March 1 and

 

 

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1October 1. The General Assembly may disapprove the report of
2the State Board in whole or in part within 60 calendar days
3after each house of the General Assembly next convenes after
4the report is filed by adoption of a resolution by a record
5vote of the majority of members elected in each house. If the
6General Assembly fails to disapprove any waiver request or
7appealed request within such 60 day period, the waiver or
8modification shall be deemed granted. Any resolution adopted by
9the General Assembly disapproving a report of the State Board
10in whole or in part shall be binding on the State Board.
11    (e) An approved waiver or modification (except a waiver
12from or modification to a physical education mandate) may
13remain in effect for a period not to exceed 5 school years and
14may be renewed upon application by the eligible applicant.
15However, such waiver or modification may be changed within that
165-year period by a board or regional superintendent of schools
17applying on behalf of schools or programs operated by the
18regional office of education following the procedure as set
19forth in this Section for the initial waiver or modification
20request. If neither the State Board of Education nor the
21General Assembly disapproves, the change is deemed granted.
22    An approved waiver from or modification to a physical
23education mandate may remain in effect for a period not to
24exceed 2 school years and may be renewed no more than 2 times
25upon application by the eligible applicant. An approved waiver
26from or modification to a physical education mandate may be

 

 

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1changed within the 2-year period by the board or regional
2superintendent of schools, whichever is applicable, following
3the procedure set forth in this Section for the initial waiver
4or modification request. If neither the State Board of
5Education nor the General Assembly disapproves, the change is
6deemed granted.
7    (f) (Blank).
8    (g) A district of innovation, as defined in the School
9Districts of Innovation Act, is exempt from the waiver process
10under this Section to the extent provided in subsection (g) of
11Section 30 of the School Districts of Innovation Act.
12(Source: P.A. 98-513, eff. 1-1-14; 98-739, eff. 7-16-14;
1398-1155, eff. 1-9-15; 99-78, eff. 7-20-15.)
 
14    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
15becoming law.