SB1572eng 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SB1572 Engrossed LRB098 08805 NHT 38931 b

AN ACT concerning education.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The School Code is amended by adding Sections 2-3.157 and 34-18.49 as follows:

(105 ILCS 5/2-3.157 new)

Sec. 2-3.157. City of Chicago School District 299 reports.

(a) The State Board of Education shall prepare a report on the practices and trends in the operations of City of Chicago School District 299 with respect to the impact of charter school enrollment on the operation of the school district. The State Board of Education shall gather data regarding student enrollment and placement policies, disciplinary procedures, programs for special education, English Language Learners (ELL), and any other relevant student needs for each public school in the district, including charter schools. The report shall specifically identify any policies that give schools latitude to discourage attendance of students or that would create barriers for any students to attend. In addition, the State Board of Education shall gather data on mobility, attendance rates, graduation rates, and incoming and outgoing transfers at each grade level for each public school in the district, including charter schools. The report shall identify the extent to which transfers from charter schools to other schools occur before or after any deadlines related to funding. The report shall identify the extent to which charter schools accept transfers into the school at each grade level, as compared to transfers out. The report shall compare charter school enrollment by race, disability, income, and ELL status to other charter and traditional public schools in the district. The report shall compare the instructional programs, methods, and instructional materials of each public school in the district, including charter schools.

The district shall comply with all requests for information made by the State Board of Education necessary for the State Board of Education to prepare this report.

The State Board of Education shall file copies of this report as provided in Section 3.1 of the General Assembly Organization Act.

(b) The State Board of Education shall prepare a report on the impact of school actions, such as school closures and school turnarounds, on the practices and trends in the operation of City of Chicago School District 299. The report shall include all of the following:

(1) A community analysis that includes current and projected demographics, land usage, transportation plans, residential housing and commercial development, private school plans for water and sewage expansion or redevelopment, and institutions of higher education.

(2) A description of the district's guiding educational principles and standards.

(3) A description of the types of instructional programs or services delivered at each school.

(4) The enrollment capacity of each school and its rate of utilization.

(5) A report on the assessment of individual building and site conditions.

(6) A data table with historical and projected enrollment data by school and by grade.

(7) An analysis of facility needs and requirements of the district.

(8) Identification of potential sources of funding for the implementation of the district's Educational Facility Master Plan.

The report shall also include identification of all external firms and agencies contracted to aid the district in performing school actions and transitions. The firms and agencies shall disclose financial interests, fees paid by the district, and any and all relationships it holds with any member of the school board or city council.

The district shall comply with all requests for information made by the State Board of Education necessary for the State Board of Education to prepare this report.

The State Board of Education shall file copies of this report as provided in Section 3.1 of the General Assembly Organization Act.

(c) The State Board of Education shall prepare a report on the impact of standardized testing on the operations and practices of City of Chicago School District 299. The report shall include the amount of time educators prepare for tests, administer tests, and analyze results. The report shall also include the amount of money spent on procuring standardized tests. The report shall include the number of tests given to students and the frequency of tests at each grade level and at each school in the district. The report shall include financial disclosures by the company or firm that owns the tests and preparation materials that include any prior relationships with the district or agents of the district. The report shall compare the frequency of tests given to students in schools that have charters approved by the district and other district schools.

The report shall be completed and made available to the public each year on or before July 31. If the district does not make available all information requested by the State Board of Education necessary for the State Board of Education to prepare this report, the State Board of Education, in an administrative proceeding, shall impose a civil penalty on the district equal to $2,900 for every day the information is unavailable after the July 31 report date. The Attorney General may bring an action in circuit court to enforce the collection of any monetary penalty imposed.

(d) The State Board of Education may adopt any rules necessary to carry out its responsibilities under this Section.

(e) The State Board of Education may enter into contracts to fulfill the requirements of this Section.

(f) City of Chicago School District 299 is responsible for all costs associated with the reports required in this Section.

(105 ILCS 5/34-18.49 new)

Sec. 34-18.49. Statement of revenues and in-kind services. The district shall create a statement of revenues and in-kind services it receives. The statement shall also include the value of any in-kind services, payments to third parties, or other supports from the district to its charter schools. Any support for marketing or recruiting activities, sharing of lists of students, or other services must be reported as well. The statement must be made available to the public.