Full Text of SB0144

Sen. Celina Villanueva

Filed: 3/25/2025

10400SB0144sam001 LRB104 05821 LNS 24267 a

AMENDMENT TO SENATE BILL 144

AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend Senate Bill 144 by replacing everything after the enacting clause with the following:

"Section 5. The School Code is amended by changing Section 27A-10.10 as follows:

(105 ILCS 5/27A-10.10)

Sec. 27A-10.10. Closure of charter school; unspent public funds; procedures for the disposition of property and assets.

(a) Upon the closing of a charter school authorized by one or more local school boards, the governing body of the charter school or its designee shall refund to the chartering entity or entities all unspent public funds. The charter school's other property and assets shall be disposed of under the provisions of the charter application and contract. If the application and contract are silent or ambiguous as to the disposition of any of the school's property or assets, any property or assets of the charter school purchased with public funds shall be returned to the school district or districts from which the charter school draws enrollment, at no cost to the receiving district or districts, subject to each district's acceptance of the property or asset. Any unspent public funds or other property or assets received by the charter school directly from any State or federal agency shall be refunded to or revert back to that State or federal agency, respectively.

(b) Upon the closing of a charter school authorized by the State Board, the governing body of the charter school or its designee shall refund all unspent public funds to the State Board. The charter school's other property and assets shall be disposed of under the provisions of the charter application and contract. If the application and contract are silent or ambiguous as to the disposition of any of the school's property or assets, any property or assets of the charter school purchased with public funds shall be returned to the school district or districts from which the charter school draws its enrollment, at no cost to the receiving district or districts, subject to each district's acceptance of the property or asset. Any unspent public funds or other property or assets provided by a State agency other than the State Board or by a federal agency shall be refunded to or revert back to that State or federal agency, respectively.

(c) For charter schools located in a school district organized under Article 34 of this Code, if a charter school proposes to close one or more campuses during the term of its contract, then (i) the charter school shall announce the proposal no later than September 1 of the year prior to the effective date of the closure, (ii) the charter school is subject to the procedures set forth in Sections 34-200 through 34-235 of this Code, and (iii) the local school board retains the authority to approve or deny the closure. If the local school board approves the closure, the governing body of the charter school shall work collaboratively with the local school board, educators, and the families of students attending the campus of the charter school that is the subject of the closure to ensure the successful integration of affected students into new learning environments. Affected students who reside in the district shall be guaranteed a seat at a district school. If a determination is made to close a charter school located within the boundaries of a school district organized under Article 34 of this Code for at least one school year, the charter school shall give at least 60 days' notice of the closure to all affected students and parents or legal guardians.

(d) Upon the closing of a charter school located in a school district organized under Article 34 of this Code, the charter school's licensed teachers shall be guaranteed a similar position for which they are qualified at a district school, preferably one that receives students from the closed charter school, with full recognition of prior service if those teachers choose to work in the district. Teachers of the closed charter school without an educator license shall be provided a pathway to a short-term license and preference in receiving a job at a district school.

(Source: P.A. 103-175, eff. 6-30-23.)".