Rep. Deanne M. Mazzochi
Filed: 3/27/2019
 
 

 

 

 
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1
AMENDMENT TO HOUSE BILL 2509




2    AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend House Bill 2509 by replacing 
3everything after the enacting clause with the following:

 
4    "Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the 
5Fundamental Issues and Texts of Western Civilization Degree 
6Pilot Program Act.
 
7    Section 5. Fundamental Issues and Texts of Western 
8Civilization Degree pilot program.
9    (a) Subject to appropriation, beginning with the 2020-2021 
10academic year or, if funds are not appropriated for the program 
11that academic year, beginning with the academic year in which 
12funds are appropriated for the program, the State Board of 
13Education, Illinois Community College Board, and Board of 
14Higher Education must develop and implement the Fundamental 
15Issues and Texts of Western Civilization Degree pilot program. 
16Under the program, one public high school, one public community 
 
 
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1college, and one public university in this State shall be 
2chosen to develop a competency-based baccalaureate degree 
3program that focuses on the fundamental issues and texts of 
4western civilization. The goals of the program must include all 
5of the following:
6        (1) To prepare students who complete the program with 
7    the requisite problem-solving, inquiry, and communication 
8    skills needed for employment or further graduate study.
9        (2) To use open education resources.
10        (3) To promote dual credit course enrollment in the 
11    participating high school.
12        (4) To have a $20,000 maximum tuition rate.
13    (b) The curriculum of the pilot program created under this 
14Section must include course instruction on various periods of 
15western civilization in areas that include,  but are not limited 
16to, philosophy, literature, history, religion, government and 
17politics, art, and architecture. The program must allow for 2 
18courses of instruction on global areas outside of western 
19civilization in areas that include, but are not limited to, 
20philosophy, literature, history, religion, government and 
21politics, art, and architecture.
 
22    Section 10. Reporting.
23    (a) After the first cohort of students complete the pilot 
24program under Section 5, the State Board of Education, Illinois 
25Community College Board, and Board of Higher Education must 
 
 
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1submit a report to the Governor and General Assembly detailing 
2the impact of the pilot program on all of the following:
3        (1) Reducing the costs of attending an institution of 
4    higher learning and overall student loan debt.
5        (2) Elevating the importance of coursework in the 
6    liberal arts.
7        (3) Creating a model curriculum that can be replicated 
8    through partnerships between other institutions of higher 
9    learning and school districts across this State.
10    (b) This Act is inoperative on and after the State Board of 
11Education, Illinois Community College Board, and Board of 
12Higher Education submit the report required under subsection 
13(a).

 
14    Section 90. Rules. The Illinois Community College Board, in 
15consultation with the State Board of Education and the Board of 
16Higher Education, must adopt rules to implement this Act.".