(105 ILCS 5/14C-1) (from Ch. 122, par. 14C-1) Sec. 14C-1. The General Assembly finds that there are large numbers of children in
this State who come from environments where the primary language is other
than English. Experience has shown that public school classes in which
instruction is given only in English are often inadequate for the education
of children whose native tongue is another language. The General Assembly
believes that a program of transitional bilingual education can meet the
needs of these children and facilitate their integration into the regular
public school curriculum. Therefore, pursuant to the policy of this State
to ensure equal educational opportunity to every child, and in recognition
of the educational needs of English learners, it is the purpose of this Act to provide for the establishment of
transitional bilingual education programs in the public schools, to
provide supplemental financial assistance through fiscal year 2017 to help local school districts
meet the extra costs of such programs, and to allow this State through the State Board of Education to directly or indirectly provide technical assistance and professional development to support transitional bilingual education or a transitional program of instruction statewide through contractual services by a not-for-profit entity for technical assistance, professional development, and other support to school districts and educators for services for English learner pupils. In no case may aggregate funding for contractual services by a not-for-profit entity for support to school districts and educators for services for English learner pupils be less than the aggregate amount expended for such purposes in Fiscal Year 2017. Not-for-profit entities providing support to school districts and educators for services for English learner pupils must have experience providing those services in a school district having a population exceeding 500,000; one or more school districts in any of the counties of Lake, McHenry, DuPage, Kane, and Will; and one or more school districts elsewhere in this State. Funding for not-for-profit entities providing support to school districts and educators for services for English learner pupils may be increased subject to an agreement with the State Board of Education. Funding for not-for-profit entities providing support to school districts and educators for services for English learner pupils shall come from funds allocated pursuant to Section 18-8.15 of this Code. (Source: P.A. 99-30, eff. 7-10-15; 100-465, eff. 8-31-17.) |
(105 ILCS 5/14C-3) (from Ch. 122, par. 14C-3)
Sec. 14C-3. Language classification of children; establishment of
program; period of participation; examination.
Each school district shall ascertain, not later than the first day of
March, under regulations prescribed by the State Board, the
number of English learners within the school
district, and shall classify them according to the language of which
they possess a primary speaking ability, and their grade level, age or
achievement level.
When, at the beginning of any school year, there is within an
attendance center of a school district, not including children who are
enrolled in existing private school systems, 20 or more English learners in any such language classification,
the school district shall establish, for each classification, a program
in transitional bilingual education for the children therein. A school
district may establish a program in transitional
bilingual education with respect to any classification with less than 20
children therein, but should a school district decide not to establish
such a program, the school district shall provide a locally determined
transitional program of instruction which, based upon an
individual student language assessment, provides content area instruction
in a language other than English to the extent
necessary to ensure that each student can benefit from educational
instruction and achieve an early and effective transition into the regular
school curriculum.
Every school-age English learner not
enrolled in existing private school systems shall be enrolled and
participate in the program in transitional bilingual education
established for the classification to which he belongs by the school
district in which he resides for a period of 3 years or until such time
as he achieves a level of English language skills which will enable him
to perform successfully in classes in which instruction is given only in
English, whichever shall first occur.
An English learner enrolled in a program in
transitional bilingual education may, in the discretion of the school
district and subject to the approval of the child's parent or legal
guardian, continue in that program for a period longer than 3 years.
An examination in the oral language (listening and speaking), reading, and
writing of English, as prescribed by the State Board, shall
be administered annually to all English learners enrolled and participating in a program in transitional
bilingual education. No school district shall transfer an English learner out of a program in transitional
bilingual education prior to his third year of enrollment therein unless
the parents of the child approve the transfer in writing, and unless the
child has received a score on said examination which, in the
determination of the State Board, reflects a level of
English language skills appropriate to his or her grade level.
If later evidence suggests that a child so transferred is still
disabled by an inadequate command of English, he may be
re-enrolled
in the program for a length of time equal to that which remained at the
time he was transferred.
(Source: P.A. 98-972, eff. 8-15-14; 99-30, eff. 7-10-15.)
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(105 ILCS 5/14C-4) (from Ch. 122, par. 14C-4)
Sec. 14C-4.
Notice of enrollment; content; rights of parents.
No later than 30 days after the beginning of the school year or
14 days after the enrollment of any child in a
program in
transitional bilingual education during the middle of a school year, the
school district in which the child
resides shall notify by mail the parents or legal guardian of the child of
the fact that their child has been enrolled in a program in transitional
bilingual education. The notice shall contain all of the following
information in simple, nontechnical language:
(1) The reasons why the child has been placed in and |
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(2) The child's level of English proficiency, how
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| this level was assessed, and the child's current level of academic achievement.
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(3) The method of instruction used in the program and
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| in other available offerings of the district, including how the program differs from those other offerings in content, instructional goals, and the use of English and native language instruction.
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(4) How the program will meet the educational
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| strengths and needs of the child.
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(5) How the program will specifically help the child
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| to learn English and to meet academic achievement standards for grade promotion and graduation.
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(6) The specific exit requirements for the program,
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| the expected rate of transition from the program into the regular curriculum, and the expected graduation rate for children in the program if the program is offered at the secondary level.
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(7) How the program meets the objectives of the
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| child's individual educational program (IEP), if applicable.
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(8) The right of the parents to decline to enroll the
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| child in the program or to choose another program or method of instruction, if available.
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(9) The right of the parents to have the child
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| immediately removed from the program upon request.
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(10) The right of the parents to visit transitional
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| bilingual education classes in which their child is enrolled and to come to the school for a conference to explain the nature of transitional bilingual education.
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The notice shall be in writing in English and in the language of which
the child of the parents so notified possesses a primary speaking ability.
Any parent whose child has been enrolled in a program in transitional
bilingual education shall have the absolute right to immediately withdraw his
child from said program by
providing written
notice of such desire to the school authorities of the school in which his
child is enrolled or to the school district in which his child resides.
(Source: P.A. 92-604, eff. 7-1-02.)
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(105 ILCS 5/14C-10) (from Ch. 122, par. 14C-10)
Sec. 14C-10. Parent and community participation.
School districts shall provide for the maximum practical involvement of
parents of children in transitional bilingual education programs. Each
school district shall, accordingly, establish a parent advisory committee
which affords parents the opportunity effectively to express their views
and which ensures that such programs are planned, operated, and evaluated
with the involvement of, and in consultation with, parents of children
served by the programs. Such committees shall be composed of parents of
children enrolled in transitional bilingual education programs,
transitional bilingual education teachers, counselors, and representatives
from community groups; provided, however, that a majority of each committee
shall be parents of children enrolled in the transitional bilingual
education program. Once established, these committees shall autonomously carry out their affairs, including the election of officers and the establishment of internal rules, guidelines, and procedures.
(Source: P.A. 97-915, eff. 1-1-13.)
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