Section 405.20  Adult and Juvenile Educational Programs

a)         The opportunity for educational programs shall be available in the Adult and Juvenile Divisions through the Department of Corrections School District #428.  Nothing in this Part shall be construed to require educational opportunities for all committed persons, except as otherwise provided in Section 405.60 or in Sections 3-6-2 and 3-9-1 of the Unified Code of Corrections (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1991, ch. 38, pars. 1003-6-2 and 1003-9-1) [730 ILCS 5/3-6-2 and 3-9-1].

1)         Adult Division educational programs shall include:

A)        Adult basic education and General Educational Development (GED) training;

B)        Special education;

C)        Vocational education and career counseling; and

D)        Post-secondary education, where possible.

2)         Juvenile Division educational programs shall include:

A)        Basic education and GED;

B)        High school credits;

C)        Special education;

D)        Vocational education; and

E)        Post-secondary education, where possible.

b)         Committed persons shall, upon request, be considered for enrollment in an educational program for which they are eligible or placement on the waiting list for the program if one exists.

c)         In determining eligibility for enrollment in educational programs the Department shall consider, among other factors, the committed person's composite scores on achievement tests, the safety and security of the facility or any person, staff recommendations, requirements for admission to specific programs, administrative concerns, and the committed person's institutional behavior, disciplinary record, educational record, projected release date, and medical and mental health status.

d)         In the Adult Division, committed persons may be eligible to enroll in:

1)         Adult Basic Education if they test below the 8.0 grade level.

2)         GED training if they test at the 8.0 grade level or above and they do not have a verified GED certificate or a High School diploma.

3)         Special education regardless of test scores.

4)         School District #428 vocational education regardless of test scores.

5)         College vocational programs if they have a verified GED certificate or High School diploma or as otherwise approved in writing by the Superintendent.

6)         Two-year college degree academic programs if they have a verified GED certificate or High School diploma.

7)         Four-year college degree academic programs if they have a verified GED certificate or High School diploma, and they have 30 hours of college transfer credit.

e)         In the Juvenile Division, committed persons may be eligible to enroll in:

1)         Basic Education if they test below the 8.0 grade level.

2)         GED training if they test at the 8.0 grade level or above and they do not have a verified GED certificate, Special Education diploma, or High School diploma.

3)         High School credits if they test at the 8.0 grade level or above and they do not have a verified GED certificate, Special Education Diploma, or High School diploma.

4)         Special Education regardless of test scores.

5)         School District #428 vocational education if they test at the 3.0 grade level or above.

6)         College vocational programs if they have a verified GED certificate, Special Education diploma, or High School diploma or as otherwise approved in writing by the Superintendent.

7)         Two-year college academic programs if they have a verified GED certificate, Special Education diploma, or High School diploma.

f)         Committed persons shall be required to attend and actively participate in classes for which they are enrolled and shall be subject to discipline under 20 Ill. Adm. Code 504, unless absent due to verified illnesses, approved visits, court writs, furloughs, discipline, lockdowns, or other reasons approved by the Chief Administrative Officer.  Active participation shall mean, but shall not be limited to, instances in which the committed person is attentive, responsive, and cooperative and completes assigned work.

g)         Committed persons shall adhere to attendance requirements of the educational program in which they are enrolled:

1)         Committed persons enrolled in non-college academic programs in the Adult and Juvenile Divisions shall be required to attend and to actively participate in the number of instructional days specified to complete the program and shall not be absent from the program or shall not be documented as not actively participating in the program for more than 30 instructional days, not including days absent due to lockdowns.

2)         Persons committed in the Community Services Division and committed persons enrolled in college academic courses shall attend scheduled classes and shall not be absent more than allowed under the requirements of the educational provider or the correctional facility policy.  Committed persons shall be advised of the specific requirements of the program in which they are enrolled.

h)         Committed persons may be removed from educational programs due to:

1)         Disciplinary action.

2)         Failure to adhere to attendance requirements.

3)         Administrative reasons approved by the Educational Administrator or the Chief Administrative Officer including, but not limited to, disruptive behavior, lack of active participation, termination or suspension of the program, and safety and security reasons.

4)         The committed person's transfer to another facility or program.

(Source:  Amended at 18 Ill. Reg. 2970, effective February 14, 1994)