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| Public Act 103-0264 | ||||
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AN ACT concerning education.
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Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
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represented in the General Assembly:
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Section 5. The School Code is amended by adding Section | ||||
2-3.196 as follows: | ||||
(105 ILCS 5/2-3.196 new) | ||||
Sec. 2-3.196. Computer Science Equity Grant Program. | ||||
(a) Subject to appropriation, the State Board shall | ||||
establish a competitive grant program to support the | ||||
development or enhancement of computer science programs in the | ||||
K-12 schools. Eligible entities are regional offices of | ||||
education, intermediate service centers, State higher | ||||
education institutions, schools designated as laboratory | ||||
schools, and school districts. Approved entities shall be | ||||
responsible for ensuring that appropriate facilities are | ||||
available and educators are appropriately trained on the use | ||||
of any technologies or devices acquired for the purposes of | ||||
the grant. | ||||
(b) Computer Science Equity Grant Program funds shall be | ||||
used in the following manner consistent with application | ||||
requirements established by the State Board of Education as | ||||
provided in this Article: | ||||
(1) to expand learning opportunities in grades K-12 to | ||||
ensure that all students have access to computer science | ||
coursework that is aligned to rigorous State standards and | ||
emerging labor market needs; | ||
(2) to train and retrain teachers of grades K-12 to be | ||
more proficient in the teaching of computer science by | ||
providing professional development opportunities; | ||
(3) to supply classrooms with materials and equipment | ||
related to the teaching and learning of computer science; | ||
and | ||
(4) to more effectively recruit and better serve K-12 | ||
learners who are underrepresented in the computer science | ||
labor market for enrollment in computer science | ||
coursework. | ||
(c) Computer Science Equity Grant Program funds shall be | ||
made available to each eligible entity upon completion of an | ||
application process that is consistent with rules established | ||
by the State Board of Education. The application shall include | ||
the planned use of the funds; identification of need for the | ||
funds that is supported by local, regional, and state data; a | ||
plan for long-term sustainability; and a long-term plan for | ||
continuous improvement. | ||
(d) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules as may | ||
be necessary to implement the provision of this Article, | ||
including, but not limited to, the identification of | ||
additional prioritization areas for each competitive grant | ||
application cycle that are within the scope of the authorized | ||
uses. Priority consideration for all applications will be | ||
given for proposals that intend to serve a majority of | ||
learners or teachers with gender or racial/ethnic identities | ||
that are underrepresented in the computer science labor | ||
market. | ||
(e) Up to 2 renewals of the grant will be allowed, | ||
providing the entity awarded satisfactorily completes | ||
programmatic reporting and meets program objectives | ||
commensurate with application requirements set forth by the | ||
State Board of Education. | ||
(f) Grants under the Computer Science Equity Grant Program | ||
and funding levels for satisfactory applications may be | ||
prorated according to the amount appropriated.
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