HB2396eng 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

  
  
  

 


 
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1    AN ACT concerning education.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The School Code is amended by adding Section
510-22.18e and by changing Sections 10-20.19a and 10-22.18 as
6follows:
 
7    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.19a)  (from Ch. 122, par. 10-20.19a)
8    Sec. 10-20.19a. Kindergartens. After July 1, 1970, to
9establish and maintain kindergartens for the instruction of
10children in accordance with rules and regulations prescribed
11by the State Board of Education. Such kindergartens may
12provide for either a 1/2 day or a full day of attendance for
13pupils enrolled therein.
14    This Section is repealed on July 1, 2023.
15(Source: P.A. 84-18.)
 
16    (105 ILCS 5/10-22.18)  (from Ch. 122, par. 10-22.18)
17    Sec. 10-22.18. Kindergartens.
18    (a) To establish kindergartens for the instruction of
19children between the ages of 4 and 6 years, if in their
20judgment the public interest requires it, and to pay the
21necessary expenses thereof out of the school funds of the
22district. Until the 2027-2028 school year, upon Upon petition

 

 

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1of at least 50 parents or guardians of children between the
2ages of 4 and 6, residing within any school district and within
3one mile of the public school where such kindergarten is
4proposed to be established, the board of directors shall, if
5funds are available, establish a kindergarten in connection
6with the public school designated in the petition and maintain
7it as long as the annual average daily attendance therein is
8not less than 15. Until the 2027-2028 school year, the The
9board may establish a kindergarten with half-day attendance or
10with full-day attendance; however, if . If the board
11establishes full-day kindergarten, it shall also establish
12half-day kindergarten. Beginning with the 2027-2028 school
13year, each school board must establish a kindergarten with
14full-day attendance. The full-day kindergarten should be
15developmentally appropriate and provide opportunities for
16play-based learning. No one shall be employed to teach in a
17kindergarten who does not hold a license as provided by law.
18    (b) An elementary or unit school district that does not
19offer full-day kindergarten as of October 1, 2022, may, by
20action of the State Board of Education, apply for an extension
21of the 2027-2028 school year implementation deadline for 2
22additional years if one of the following criteria are met:
23        (1) the school district is funded below 70% of
24    adequacy according to the Evidence-Based Funding formula
25    under Section 18-8.15 of this Code as of the date of the
26    application;

 

 

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1        (2) the school district is ranked in the top 25% of
2    capital funding need by the Full-Day Kindergarten Task
3    Force, but has yet to receive capital funding as of the
4    date of the application; or
5        (3) the school district meets a criterion set by State
6    Board of Education based on Full-Day Kindergarten Task
7    Force's recommendations under subsection (b) of Section
8    10-22.18e of this Code.
9(Source: P.A. 102-894, eff. 5-20-22.)
 
10    (105 ILCS 5/10-22.18e new)
11    Sec. 10-22.18e. Full-Day Kindergarten Task Force.
12    (a) The Full-Day Kindergarten Task Force is created for
13the purpose of conducting a statewide audit to inform the
14planning and implementation of full-day kindergarten in the
15State and shall, at a minimum, collect, analyze, and report
16the following:
17        (1) the number of elementary and unit school districts
18    in the State that are currently offering kindergarten,
19    including the number offering full-day kindergarten, the
20    number offering part-day kindergarten, and the number
21    offering both part-day kindergarten and full-day
22    kindergarten;
23        (2) the number of students currently enrolled in
24    kindergarten in the State, including the number enrolled
25    in full-day kindergarten, the number enrolled in part-day

 

 

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1    kindergarten, the total number enrolled in either part-day
2    kindergarten or full-day kindergarten, and the number of
3    children on any waitlists for part-day or full-day
4    kindergarten;
5        (3) for all elementary and unit school districts, an
6    estimate of the number of students eligible for
7    kindergarten;
8        (4) for all elementary and unit school districts that
9    do not currently offer full-day kindergarten, an analysis
10    of their space utilization rate and an assessment of
11    district capacity to provide space for full-day
12    kindergarten classrooms;
13        (5) for all elementary and unit school districts that
14    do not currently offer full-day kindergarten and are found
15    to have insufficient capacity to provide space for
16    full-day kindergarten classrooms, an estimate of the costs
17    associated with providing a full-day kindergarten
18    classrooms;
19        (6) recommendations on how available capital funds for
20    full-day kindergarten might be disbursed to school
21    districts to prioritize districts most in need of State
22    resources; and
23        (7) other data or recommendations that would support
24    the state or individual school districts in offering
25    full-day kindergarten. Such recommendations may include an
26    analysis of other start-up or categorical costs associated

 

 

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1    with offering full-day kindergarten.
2    (b) Based on the findings reported under subsection (b) of
3this Section, the Task Force may recommend that the State
4Board of Education consider an additional criterion when
5granting a waiver under subsection (b) of Section 10-22.18 of
6this Code. The State Board of Education shall make a final
7determination regarding this additional factor and provide
8public notice that determination by no later than July 1,
92025.
10    (c) Members of the Full-Day Kindergarten Task Force shall
11be appointed by no later than October 1, 2023 and shall possess
12the expertise needed to complete the report and
13recommendations. Members appointed to the Task Force must
14reflect the racial, ethnic, and geographic diversity of this
15State. Task Force members shall include all of the following:
16        (1) The State Superintendent of Education or the
17    Superintendent's designee.
18        (2) Three members appointed by the State Board of
19    Education with relevant expertise.
20        (3) One member who represents the Capital Development
21    Board, appointed by the State Superintendent of Education.
22        (4) One member from an organization with expertise in
23    school construction and facilities financing, appointed by
24    the State Superintendent of Education.
25        (5) One member from an organization with expertise in
26    local, state, and federal tax and budget related issues,

 

 

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1    appointed by the State Superintendent of Education.
2        (6) One member of a statewide professional teachers'
3    organization who is a kindergarten teacher, appointed by
4    the State Superintendent of Education.
5        (7) One member of another statewide professional
6    teachers' organization who is a kindergarten teacher,
7    appointed by the State Superintendent of Education.
8        (8) One member who represents a statewide organization
9    of school business officials and has experience overseeing
10    schools with kindergarten programs, appointed by the State
11    Superintendent of Education.
12        (9) One member who represents a statewide organization
13    of principals and has experience overseeing schools with
14    kindergarten programs, appointed by the State
15    Superintendent of Education.
16        (10) One member who represents a statewide
17    organization of school boards and has experience
18    overseeing schools with kindergarten programs, appointed
19    by the State Superintendent of Education.
20        (11) Three members who are parents of students, one of
21    whom is from an urban elementary or unit school district,
22    one of whom is from a rural elementary or unit school
23    district, and one of whom is from a suburban elementary or
24    unit school district, all appointed by the State
25    Superintendent of Education.
26        (12) One member who represents a statewide

 

 

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1    organization of school districts and has experience
2    overseeing schools with kindergarten programs, appointed
3    by the State Superintendent of Education.
4        (13) One member who represents a elementary or unit
5    school district which is a Tier 3 or Tier 4 school as
6    defined by Section 18-8.15 of this Code that does not
7    currently offer full-day kindergarten, appointed by the
8    State Superintendent of Education.
9        (14) One member who represents a school district
10    serving a community with a population of 500,000 or more,
11    appointed by the State Superintendent of Education.
12        (15) One member who represents a rural elementary or
13    unit school district, appointed by the State
14    Superintendent of Education.
15    (d) The Full-Day Kindergarten Task Force shall meet at the
16call of the State Superintendent of Education or the
17Superintendent's designee, who shall serve as the chairperson.
18The State Board of Education shall provide administrative and
19other support to the Task Force. Members of the Task Force
20shall serve without compensation.
21    (e) The Full-Day Kindergarten Task Force shall issue an
22interim report by April 15, 2024 and a final report to the
23General Assembly and Governor's Office no later than November
2415, 2024.
25    (f) Upon issuing its final report, the Full-Day
26Kindergarten Task Force is dissolved.
 

 

 

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1    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
2becoming law.