HB2812 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB102 15299 CMG 20654 b

102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2021 and 2022
HB2812

Introduced 2/19/2021, by Rep. Brad Halbrook

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

105 ILCS 5/10-20.73 new
105 ILCS 5/34-18.67 new

Amends the School Code. Requires a school district to allow the parent or guardian of twins or higher order multiples to request that his or her children be placed in the same classroom or in separate classrooms if the children are (i) in the same grade level, (ii) in any of grades kindergarten through 5, and (iii) attending the same school. Provides that the principal of the school may request a meeting with the parent or guardian to recommend classroom placement and if the parent or guardian and the principal, in consultation with the children's assigned classroom teacher or teachers, do not agree on classroom placement after the meeting is held, the principal must request a school board hearing to determine classroom placement. Provides that if the principal does not request a meeting with the parent or guardian, the school must provide the classroom placement requested by the parent or guardian. Provides for the school board to make a classroom placement determination during the school year, after a hearing, if the principal determines that the original placement is disruptive to the classroom environment or is otherwise academically, behaviorally, or mentally not beneficial to the children. Effective immediately.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT

A BILL FOR

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 adding Sections 10-20.73 and 34-18.67 as follows:

(105 ILCS 5/10-20.73 new)

Sec. 10-20.73. Classroom placement; multiples.

(a) In this Section, "higher order multiples" means triplets, quadruplets, quintuplets, or more.

(b) A school district shall allow the parent or guardian of twins or higher order multiples to request that his or her children be placed in the same classroom or in separate classrooms if the children are (i) in the same grade level, (ii) in any of grades kindergarten through 5, and (iii) attending the same school. The parent or guardian shall request the classroom placement upon school registration for the upcoming school year or, if the children transfer to the school after the school year commences, at the time of registration at that school. The principal of the school may request a meeting with the parent or guardian to recommend classroom placement. If the parent or guardian and the principal, in consultation with the children's assigned classroom teacher or teachers, do not agree on the classroom placement after the meeting is held, the principal must request a school board hearing to determine classroom placement. The hearing shall take place at the next regularly scheduled school board meeting prior to the school year commencing or, if transferring, after the children are registered. After the hearing, the school board shall make a classroom placement determination. If the principal does not request a meeting with the parent or guardian, the school must provide the classroom placement requested by the parent or guardian.

(c) After the school year commences, if the principal, in consultation with the children's classroom teacher or teachers, determines that the classroom placement is disruptive to the classroom environment or is otherwise academically, behaviorally, or mentally not beneficial to the children, the principal may request a school board hearing to determine a change in the classroom placement. No less than 10 days prior to the school board hearing to determine classroom placement, the school board shall notify the parent or guardian in writing that the principal has requested a hearing. The principal, classroom teacher or teachers, and parent or guardian of the children may provide testimony, including professional or expert testimony, to the school board in relation to the classroom placement determination. The school board's classroom placement determination shall be the children's classroom placement for the remainder of the school year. Nothing in this subsection (c) prohibits a parent or guardian from requesting a classroom placement upon registration for the following school year.

(105 ILCS 5/34-18.67 new)

Sec. 34-18.67. Classroom placement; multiples.

(a) In this Section, "higher order multiples" means triplets, quadruplets, quintuplets, or more.

(b) The school district shall allow the parent or guardian of twins or higher order multiples to request that his or her children be placed in the same classroom or in separate classrooms if the children are (i) in the same grade level, (ii) in any of grades kindergarten through 5, and (iii) attending the same school. The parent or guardian shall request the classroom placement upon school registration for the upcoming school year or, if the children transfer to the school after the school year commences, at the time of registration at that school. The principal of the school may request a meeting with the parent or guardian to recommend classroom placement. If the parent or guardian and the principal, in consultation with the children's assigned classroom teacher or teachers, do not agree on the classroom placement after the meeting is held, the principal must request a board hearing to determine classroom placement. The hearing shall take place at the next regularly scheduled board meeting prior to the school year commencing or, if transferring, after the children are registered. After the hearing, the board shall make a classroom placement determination. If the principal does not request a meeting with the parent or guardian, the school must provide the classroom placement requested by the parent or guardian.

(c) After the school year commences, if the principal, in consultation with the children's classroom teacher or teachers, determines that the classroom placement is disruptive to the classroom environment or is otherwise academically, behaviorally, or mentally not beneficial to the children, the principal may request a board hearing to determine a change in the classroom placement. No less than 10 days prior to the board hearing to determine classroom placement, the board shall notify the parent or guardian in writing that the principal has requested a hearing. The principal, classroom teacher or teachers, and parent or guardian of the children may provide testimony, including professional or expert testimony, to the board in relation to the classroom placement determination. The board's classroom placement determination shall be the children's classroom placement for the remainder of the school year. Nothing in this subsection (c) prohibits a parent or guardian from requesting a classroom placement upon registration for the following school year.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.