Public Act 0129 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SB1983 Enrolled LRB104 09170 LNS 19226 b

Public Act 104-0129

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 changing Sections 14A-15, 14A-30, and 14A-35 as follows:

(105 ILCS 5/14A-15)

Sec. 14A-15. Purpose. The purpose of this Article is to provide encouragement, assistance, and guidance to school districts in the development and improvement of educational programs for gifted and talented children and children eligible for accelerated placement as defined in Sections 14A-20 and 14A-17 of this Code. School districts shall continue to have the authority and flexibility to design education programs for gifted and talented children in response to community needs, but these programs must comply with the requirements established in Section 14A-30 of this Code by no later than September 1, 2006 in order to merit approval by the State Board of Education in order to qualify for State funding for the education of gifted and talented children, should such funding become available.

(Source: P.A. 100-421, eff. 7-1-18.)

(105 ILCS 5/14A-30)

Sec. 14A-30. Local Funding of local gifted education programs. A local program for the education of gifted and talented children may include, but need not be limited to, be approved for funding by the State Board of Education, pursuant to a request for proposals process, if funds for that purpose are available and, beginning with the beginning of the 2010-2011 academic year, if the local program submits an application for funds that includes a comprehensive plan (i) showing that the applicant is capable of meeting a portion of the following requirements, (ii) showing the program elements currently in place and a timeline for implementation of other elements, and (iii) demonstrating to the satisfaction of the State Board of Education that the applicant is capable of implementing a program of gifted education consistent with this Article:

(1) The use of assessment instruments, such as nonverbal ability tests and tests in students' native languages, and a selection process that is equitable to and inclusive of underrepresented groups, including low-income students, minority students, students with disabilities, twice-exceptional students, and English learners.

(2) (Blank). A priority emphasis on language arts and mathematics.

(3) The use of multiple valid assessments that assess both demonstrated achievement and potential for achievement, including cognitive ability tests and general or subject specific achievement tests, applied universally to all students, and appropriate for the content focus of the gifted services that will be provided. School districts and schools may add other local, valid assessments, such as portfolios. Assessments and selection processes must ensure multiple pathways into the program.

(4) The use of score ranges on assessments that are appropriate for the school or district population, including the use of local norms for achievement to identify high potential students.

(5) A process of identification of gifted and talented children that is of equal rigor in each area of aptitude addressed by the program.

(6) The use of identification procedures that appropriately correspond with the planned programs, curricula, and services.

(7) A fair and equitable decision-making process.

(8) The availability of a fair and impartial appeal process within the school, school district, or cooperative of school districts operating a program for parents or guardians whose children are aggrieved by a decision of the school, school district, or cooperative of school districts regarding eligibility for participation in a program.

(9) Procedures for annually informing the community at-large, including parents, about the program and the methods used for the identification of gifted and talented children.

(10) Procedures for notifying parents or guardians of a child of a decision affecting that child's participation in a program.

(11) A description of how gifted and talented children will be grouped and instructed in order to maximize the educational benefits the children derive from participation in the program, including curriculum modifications and options that accelerate and add depth and complexity to the curriculum content.

(12) An explanation of how the program emphasizes higher-level skills attainment, including problem-solving, critical thinking, creative thinking, and research skills, as embedded within relevant content areas.

(13) A methodology for measuring academic growth for gifted and talented children and a procedure for communicating a child's progress to his or her parents or guardian, including, but not limited to, a report card.

(14) The collection of data on growth in learning for children in a program for gifted and talented children and the reporting of the data to the State Board of Education.

(15) The designation of a supervisor responsible for overseeing the educational program for gifted and talented children.

(16) A showing that the certified teachers who are assigned to teach gifted and talented children understand the characteristics and educational needs of children and are able to differentiate the curriculum and apply instructional methods to meet the needs of the children.

(17) Plans for the continuation of professional development for staff assigned to the program serving gifted and talented children.

(Source: P.A. 99-706, eff. 7-29-16.)

(105 ILCS 5/14A-35)

Sec. 14A-35. Administrative functions of the State Board of Education for gifted and talented children programs.

(a) The State Board of Education must designate a staff person who shall be in charge of educational programs for gifted and talented children. This staff person shall, at a minimum, (i) be responsible for developing an approval process for educational programs for gifted and talented children by no later than September 1, 2006, (ii) receive and maintain the written descriptions of all programs for gifted and talented children in the State, (iii) collect and maintain the annual growth in learning data submitted by a school, school district, or cooperative of school districts, (iv) identify potential funding sources for the education of gifted and talented children, and (v) serve as the main contact person at the State Board of Education for program supervisors and other school officials, parents, and other stakeholders regarding the education of gifted and talented children.

(b) Subject to the availability of funds for these purposes, the State Board of Education may perform a variety of additional administrative functions with respect to the education of gifted and talented children, including, but not limited to, supervision, quality assurance, compliance monitoring, and oversight of local programs, analysis of performance outcome data submitted by local educational agencies, the establishment of personnel standards, and a program of personnel development for teachers and administrative personnel in the education of gifted and talented children.

(Source: P.A. 100-421, eff. 7-1-18.)