SB0066 93rd General Assembly

093_SB0066

 
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 1        AN ACT concerning schools.

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

 4        Section 5.  The School Code is amended by adding  Section
 5    2-3.61a as follows:

 6        (105 ILCS 5/2-3.61a new)
 7        Sec. 2-3.61a.  After-school program grant.
 8        (a)  From  moneys  appropriated  for the purposes of this
 9    Section,  the  State  Board  of   Education   shall   provide
10    after-school  program  grants  to qualifying school districts
11    for the purpose of providing academic assistance at  the  end
12    of  the  regular day of instruction or on non-school days for
13    students and their families at school sites in the qualifying
14    school district.
15        (b)  A school district qualifies  and  may  apply  for  a
16    grant under this Section if the district contains one or more
17    schools  in  which at least two-fifths of the students at the
18    school fail to meet State academic  standards  as  determined
19    under Section 2-3.64 of this Code.
20        (c)  If  a  school  district  receives a grant under this
21    Section, all students who are enrolled at  the  school  where
22    the  after-school  program is administered may participate in
23    the after-school program.  The school district must submit to
24    the State Board of Education a detailed plan summarizing  its
25    strategy for recruiting students to and retaining students in
26    the after-school program who have failed to meet the academic
27    standards.
28        (d)  The  grants  under  this Section may be used without
29    limitation for the following purposes:
30             (1)  homework assistance;
31             (2)  supplemental   educational   and   recreational
 
                            -2-      LRB093 02025 NHT 02025 b
 1        programs; and
 2             (3)  family-centered  education  programs   at   the
 3        school site in the qualifying school district.
 4        (e)  A  school  district  may  administer an after-school
 5    program supported by a grant under this Section  in  any  way
 6    that  it  deems  fit.   However, the State Board of Education
 7    shall strongly encourage the  school  district  to  establish
 8    partnerships  with not-for-profit organizations or businesses
 9    for components of the after-school  program's  administration
10    at each school site.
11        (f)  All applications for grants under this Section shall
12    be  made  on  forms  that  the State Board of Education shall
13    provide.   An  application  shall  be  filed  by  the  school
14    district with the State Board of Education before  the  start
15    of  the  after-school  program.  The State Board of Education
16    shall  adopt  rules  regarding   the   procedure   by   which
17    application  may  be  made for the grants and shall establish
18    standards by which  to  evaluate  the  after-school  programs
19    supported  by  the  grants.  The State Board of Education may
20    adopt  any  other  rules   necessary   to   carry   out   its
21    responsibilities under this Section.

22        Section  99.  Effective date.  This Act takes effect upon
23    becoming law.