Public Act 100-0760
 
HB4860 EnrolledLRB100 18649 AXK 33876 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 changing Section 
10-20.56 as follows:
 
    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.56)
    Sec. 10-20.56. E-learning days.
    (a) The State Board of Education shall establish and 
maintain, for implementation in selected school districts a 
during the 2015-2016, 2016-2017, and 2017-2018 school years, a

pilot program for use of electronic-learning (e-learning) 
days, as described in this
Section. The State Superintendent of 
Education shall select up to 3 school districts for this 
program, at least one of which may be an elementary or unit 
school district. The use of e-learning days may not begin until 
the second semester of the 2015-2016 school year, and the pilot 
program shall conclude with the end of the 2017-2018 school 
year.  On or before June 1, 2019, the State Board shall report 
its recommendation for expansion, revision, or discontinuation 
of the program to the Governor and General Assembly.
    (b) The school board of a school district selected by the 
State Superintendent of Education under subsection (a) of this 
Section may, by resolution, adopt a research-based program or

research-based programs for e-learning days district-wide that 
shall permit student instruction to be received electronically 
while students are not physically present in lieu of the 
district's scheduled emergency days as required by Section 
10-19 of this Code. The research-based program or programs may 
not exceed the minimum number of emergency days in the approved 
school calendar and must be submitted to the State 
Superintendent for approval on or before September 1st annually 
to ensure access for all students. The State Superintendent 
shall approve programs that ensure that the specific needs of 
all students are met, including special education students and 
English learners, and that all mandates are still met using the 
proposed research-based program. The e-learning program may 
utilize the Internet, telephones, texts, chat rooms, or other 
similar means of electronic communication for instruction and 
interaction between teachers and students that meet the needs 
of all
learners. 
    (c) Before its adoption by a school board, a school 
district's initial proposal for an e-learning program or for 
renewal of such a program must be approved by the State Board 
of Education and shall follow a public hearing, at a regular or 
special meeting of the school board, in which the terms of the 
proposal must be substantially presented and an opportunity for 
allowing public comments must be provided.  Notice of such 
public hearing must be provided at least 10 days prior to the 
hearing by:
        (1) publication in a newspaper of general circulation 
    in the school district;
        (2) written or electronic notice designed to reach the 
    parents or guardians of all students enrolled in the school 
    district; and
        (3) written or electronic notice designed to reach any 
    exclusive collective bargaining representatives of school 
    district employees and all those employees not in a 
    collective bargaining unit.
    (d) A proposal for an e-learning program must be timely 
approved by the State Board of Education if the requirements 
specified in this Section have been met and if, in the view of 
the State Board of Education, the proposal contains provisions 
designed to reasonably and practicably accomplish the 
following:
        (1) to ensure and verify at least 5 clock hours of 
    instruction or school work for each student participating 
    in an e-learning day;
        (2) to ensure access from home or other appropriate 
    remote facility for all students participating, including 
    computers, the Internet, and other forms of electronic 
    communication that must be utilized in the proposed 
    program;
        (3) to ensure appropriate learning opportunities for 
    students with special needs;
        (4) to monitor and verify each student's electronic 
    participation;
        (5) to address the extent to which student 
    participation is within the student's control as to the 
    time, pace, and means of learning;
        (6) to provide effective notice to students and their 
    parents or guardians of the use of particular days for 
    e-learning;
        (7) to provide staff and students with adequate 
    training for e-learning days' participation;
        (8) to ensure an opportunity for any collective 
    bargaining negotiations with representatives of the school 
    district's employees that would be legally required; and
        (9) to review and revise the program as implemented to 
    address difficulties confronted.
    The State Board of Education's approval of a school 
district's initial e-learning program and renewal of the 
e-learning program shall be for a term of 3 years.
    (e) The State Board of Education may adopt rules governing 
its supervision and review of e-learning programs consistent 
with the provision of this Section.  However, in the absence of 
such rules, school districts may submit proposals for State 
Board of Education consideration under the authority of this 
Section.

(Source: P.A. 99-194, eff. 7-30-15; 99-642, eff. 7-28-16.)
 
 
    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon 
becoming law.