Public Act 094-0666
 
HB3678 Enrolled LRB094 05823 LJB 35877 b

    AN ACT concerning schools.
 
    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
 
    Section 5. The School Code is amended by changing Sections
2-3.25a and 2-3.25d as follows:
 
    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.25a)  (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.25a)
    Sec. 2-3.25a. "School district" defined; additional
standards.
    (a) For the purposes of this Section and Sections 3.25b,
3.25c, 3.25d, 3.25e, and 3.25f of this Code, "school district"
includes other public entities responsible for administering
public schools, such as cooperatives, joint agreements,
charter schools, special charter districts, regional offices
of education, local agencies, and the Department of Human
Services.
    (b) In addition to the standards established pursuant to
Section 2-3.25, the State Board of Education shall develop
recognition standards for student performance and school
improvement in all public schools operated by school districts.
The indicators to determine adequate yearly progress shall be
limited to the State assessment of student performance in
reading and mathematics, student attendance rates at the
elementary school level, graduation rates at the high school
level, and participation rates on student assessments. Unless
the federal government formally disapproves of such policy
through the submission and review process for the Illinois
Accountability Workbook, the indicators to determine adequate
yearly progress for children with disabilities shall be based
on their individualized education plans. The standards shall be
designed to permit the measurement of student performance and
school improvement by schools and school districts compared to
student performance and school improvement for the preceding
academic years.
(Source: P.A. 93-470, eff. 8-8-03.)
 
    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.25d)  (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.25d)
    Sec. 2-3.25d. Academic early warning and watch status.
    (a) Beginning with the 2005-2006 school year, unless the
federal government formally disapproves of such policy through
the submission and review process for the Illinois
Accountability Workbook, those Those schools that do not meet
adequate yearly progress criteria, as specified by the State
Board of Education, for 2 consecutive annual calculations in
the same subgroup and in the same subject or in their
participation rate, attendance rate, or graduation rate , shall
be placed on academic early warning status for the next school
year. Schools on academic early warning status that do not meet
adequate yearly progress criteria for a third annual
calculation in the same subgroup and in the same subject or in
their participation rate, attendance rate, or graduation rate
shall remain on academic early warning status. Schools on
academic early warning status that do not meet adequate yearly
progress criteria for a fourth annual calculation in the same
subgroup and in the same subject or in their participation
rate, attendance rate, or graduation rate shall be placed on
initial academic watch status. Schools on academic watch status
that do not meet adequate yearly progress criteria for a fifth
or subsequent annual calculation in the same subgroup and in
the same subject or in their participation rate, attendance
rate, or graduation rate shall remain on academic watch status.
Schools on academic early warning or academic watch status that
meet adequate yearly progress criteria for one annual
calculation shall be acknowledged for making improvement and
shall maintain their current statuses for the next school year.
Schools on academic early warning or academic watch status that
meet adequate yearly progress criteria for 2 consecutive annual
calculations shall be considered as having met expectations and
shall be removed from any status designation.
    The school district of a school placed on either academic
early warning status or academic watch status may appeal the
status to the State Board of Education in accordance with
Section 2-3.25m of this Code.
    A school district that has one or more schools on academic
early warning or academic watch status shall prepare a revised
School Improvement Plan or amendments thereto setting forth the
district's expectations for removing each school from academic
early warning or academic watch status and for improving
student performance in the affected school or schools.
Districts operating under Article 34 of this Code may prepare
the School Improvement Plan required under Section 34-2.4 of
this Code.
    The revised School Improvement Plan for a school that is
initially placed on academic early warning status or that
remains on academic early warning status after a third annual
calculation must be approved by the school board (and by the
school's local school council in a district operating under
Article 34 of this Code, unless the school is on probation
pursuant to subsection (c) of Section 34-8.3 of this Code).
    The revised School Improvement Plan for a school placed on
initial academic watch status after a fourth annual calculation
must be approved by the school board (and by the school's local
school council in a district operating under Article 34 of this
Code, unless the school is on probation pursuant to subsection
(c) of Section 34-8.3 of this Code) and the State
Superintendent of Education.
    The revised School Improvement Plan for a school that
remains on academic watch status after a fifth annual
calculation must be approved by the school board (and by the
school's local school council in a district operating under
Article 34 of this Code, unless the school is on probation
pursuant to subsection (c) of Section 34-8.3 of this Code) and
the State Superintendent of Education. In addition, the
district must develop a school restructuring plan for the
school that must be approved by the school board (and by the
school's local school council in a district operating under
Article 34 of this Code) and subsequently approved by the State
Superintendent of Education.
    A school on academic watch status that does not meet
adequate yearly progress criteria for a sixth annual
calculation shall implement its approved school restructuring
plan beginning with the next school year, subject to the State
interventions specified in Section 2-3.25f of this Code.
    (b) Beginning with the 2005-2006 school year, unless the
federal government formally disapproves of such policy through
the submission and review process for the Illinois
Accountability Workbook, those Those school districts that do
not meet adequate yearly progress criteria, as specified by the
State Board of Education, for 2 consecutive annual calculations
in the same subgroup and in the same subject or in their
participation rate, attendance rate, or graduation rate , shall
be placed on academic early warning status for the next school
year. Districts on academic early warning status that do not
meet adequate yearly progress criteria for a third annual
calculation in the same subgroup and in the same subject or in
their participation rate, attendance rate, or graduation rate
shall remain on academic early warning status. Districts on
academic early warning status that do not meet adequate yearly
progress criteria for a fourth annual calculation in the same
subgroup and in the same subject or in their participation
rate, attendance rate, or graduation rate shall be placed on
initial academic watch status. Districts on academic watch
status that do not meet adequate yearly progress criteria for a
fifth or subsequent annual calculation in the same subgroup and
in the same subject or in their participation rate, attendance
rate, or graduation rate shall remain on academic watch status.
Districts on academic early warning or academic watch status
that meet adequate yearly progress criteria for one annual
calculation shall be acknowledged for making improvement and
shall maintain their current statuses for the next school year.
Districts on academic early warning or academic watch status
that meet adequate yearly progress criteria for 2 consecutive
annual calculations shall be considered as having met
expectations and shall be removed from any status designation.
    A district placed on either academic early warning status
or academic watch status may appeal the status to the State
Board of Education in accordance with Section 2-3.25m of this
Code.
    Districts on academic early warning or academic watch
status shall prepare a District Improvement Plan or amendments
thereto setting forth the district's expectations for removing
the district from academic early warning or academic watch
status and for improving student performance in the district.
    The District Improvement Plan for a district that is
initially placed on academic early warning status must be
approved by the school board.
    The revised District Improvement Plan for a district that
remains on academic early warning status after a third annual
calculation must be approved by the school board.
    The revised District Improvement Plan for a district on
initial academic watch status after a fourth annual calculation
must be approved by the school board and the State
Superintendent of Education.
    The revised District Improvement Plan for a district that
remains on academic watch status after a fifth annual
calculation must be approved by the school board and the State
Superintendent of Education. In addition, the district must
develop a district restructuring plan that must be approved by
the school board and the State Superintendent of Education.
    A district on academic watch status that does not meet
adequate yearly progress criteria for a sixth annual
calculation shall implement its approved district
restructuring plan beginning with the next school year, subject
to the State interventions specified in Section 2-3.25f of this
Code.
    (c) All revised School and District Improvement Plans shall
be developed in collaboration with staff in the affected school
or school district. All revised School and District Improvement
Plans shall be developed, submitted, and approved pursuant to
rules adopted by the State Board of Education. The revised
Improvement Plan shall address measurable outcomes for
improving student performance so that such performance meets
adequate yearly progress criteria as specified by the State
Board of Education.
    (d) All federal requirements apply to schools and school
districts utilizing federal funds under Title I, Part A of the
federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.
    (e) The State Board of Education, from any moneys it may
have available for this purpose, must implement and administer
a grant program that provides 2-year grants to school districts
on the academic watch list and other school districts that have
the lowest achieving students, as determined by the State Board
of Education, to be used to improve student achievement. In
order to receive a grant under this program, a school district
must establish an accountability program. The accountability
program must involve the use of statewide testing standards and
local evaluation measures. A grant shall be automatically
renewed when achievement goals are met. The Board may adopt any
rules necessary to implement and administer this grant program.
(Source: P.A. 93-470, eff. 8-8-03; 93-890, eff. 8-9-04.)
 
    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
becoming law.