105 ILCS 5/ School Code.

(105 ILCS 5/34-8.5)

Sec. 34-8.5. (Repealed).

(Source: Repealed by P.A. 89-3, eff. 2-27-95.)

(105 ILCS 5/34-8.6)

Sec. 34-8.6. Short title. Sections 34-8.6 through 34-8.19 of this Act may be cited as the Chicago Learning Zone Implementation Law.

(Source: P.A. 89-3, eff. 2-27-95.)

(105 ILCS 5/34-8.7)

Sec. 34-8.7. Findings. The General Assembly observes that the Chicago Learning Zone Advisory Committee has issued its report and recommendations. The General Assembly finds, after due consideration of the Committee's report and recommendations, that establishment of a Chicago Learning Zone designation, as the educational version of enterprise zones, will create an opportunity to accelerate the process of Chicago school reform. The General Assembly further finds that the Chicago Learning Zone will offer a fundamental change in operations from a mode of following regulations to an outcome mode, that this change will be one which concentrates on improving academic achievement in ways that can be utilized to reform the system, and that this change will be predicated on the overriding philosophy that attendance centers should be empowered to develop models most appropriate to their situations.

The General Assembly further observes that the value of a learning experience is determined by the outcomes achieved, not by the time or place of attendance; and, it finds that Learning Zone schools should have the ability to operate without State laws and regulations, board rules, and policies, and the ability to operate with contractual waivable conditions by a vote of the school staff governed by the contracts. Accordingly, the General Assembly finds that the educational needs of the schoolchildren of Chicago will be served by establishing a Chicago Learning Zone.

(Source: P.A. 89-3, eff. 2-27-95; 89-15, eff. 5-30-95.)

(105 ILCS 5/34-8.8)

Sec. 34-8.8. (Repealed).

(Source: Repealed by P.A. 89-15, eff. 5-30-95.)

(105 ILCS 5/34-8.9)

Sec. 34-8.9. (Repealed).

(Source: Repealed by P.A. 89-15, eff. 5-30-95.)

(105 ILCS 5/34-8.10)

Sec. 34-8.10. Applications for Learning Zone designation. The board shall evaluate applications from attendance centers within Chicago. Applications shall be in the form prescribed by the board. The board shall, upon majority vote, grant Learning Zone designations that, in its judgment, satisfy the goals and requirements of this Law. The board shall establish policies and procedures necessary to implement this Law.

(Source: P.A. 89-3, eff. 2-27-95; 89-15, eff. 5-30-95.)

(105 ILCS 5/34-8.11)

Sec. 34-8.11. Evaluation criteria. In determining whether to grant Learning Zone designation, the board shall consider the following factors:

(1) The extent to which the application demonstrates that improved student learning will be the paramount priority and outcome;

(2) Proposed adoption of high, rigorous standards of achievement and outcome for all students and staff;

(3) Proposed use of shared, collegial decision-making;

(4) Creative, flexible, and innovative proposed restructuring of the applicant attendance centers to create student-centered learning environments;

(5) Parental and community integration and involvement;

(6) Development of collaborative relationships with health and human services agencies;

(7) Ability to function on a localized, decentralized basis within the Chicago public school system;

(8) Appropriateness of budget and resource allocations, including those functions to be assumed and those to remain centralized;

(9) Impact of the statutes, regulations, rules, and policies for which waivers are sought; and

(10) Such other factors, not confined to the foregoing, that are fiscally sound and reasonably determinative of successful student outcome.

(Source: P.A. 89-3, eff. 2-27-95; 89-15, eff. 5-30-95.)

(105 ILCS 5/34-8.12)

Sec. 34-8.12. Attendance center support. Applications for Learning Zone designation must include evidence that the application is supported by the principal of the attendance center and by a majority vote of the Local School Council and attendance center staff. Applications shall include that evidence for each participating attendance center.

(Source: P.A. 89-3, eff. 2-27-95.)

(105 ILCS 5/34-8.13)

Sec. 34-8.13. Learning Zone designation principles. In performing its duties under this Law, the board shall be guided by the following additional principles:

(1) Learning Zone designations should be effective for an initial period of no less than 3 and no more than 6 years;

(2) Learning Zone designations should encompass clusters of attendance centers through joint application from secondary and feeder elementary schools or in other reasonably related clusters;

(3) Learning Zone designations should encompass, in the aggregate, approximately 10% of the students enrolled in attendance centers within Chicago;

(4) Learning Zone designations should, in the aggregate, be reflective of the racial and ethnic diversity and demography of students enrolled in attendance centers within Chicago;

(5) Learning Zone designations should be fully operational commencing with the 1996-97 school year; and

(6) Learning Zone designation renewals, revisions, and applications for additional waivers of statutes, regulations, rules, and policies should be evaluated in light of the goals of this Law.

(Source: P.A. 89-3, eff. 2-27-95; 89-15, eff. 5-30-95.)