SB0407eng 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SB0407 Engrossed LRB104 06645 LNS 16681 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 adding Section 26-20 as follows:

(105 ILCS 5/26-20 new)

Sec. 26-20. The Chronic Absence Task Force.

(a) The Chronic Absence Task Force is created within the State Board of Education to study the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on chronic absence and to support the development of a State strategy to address the ongoing challenges presented by chronic absenteeism for students in early childhood education and care programs and students in grades kindergarten through 12.

(b) The Task Force shall consist of the following members:

(1) the Director of Children and Family Services or his or her designee;

(2) the Chairperson of the State Board of Education or his or her designee;

(3) the Chairperson of the Board of Higher Education or his or her designee;

(4) the Secretary of Human Services or his or her designee;

(5) the Secretary of Early Childhood or his or her designee;

(6) the Director of Public Health or his or her designee;

(7) the Chairperson of the Illinois Community College Board or his or her designee; and

(8) the following persons, each appointed by the State Superintendent of Education:

(A) one expert in children's disabilities, impairments, and social-emotional issues;

(B) 3 educators who (i) are either teachers or school support personnel and (ii) are currently employed in a public school or early learning center in this State;

(C) one member who represents a non-profit organization that advocates for students in temporary living situations;

(D) one member who represents a non-profit organization that advocates for the well-being of all children and families in this State;

(E) one member who represents a State non-profit organization that conducts community organizing around family issues;

(F) 2 members who each represent separate statewide professional teachers' organizations;

(G) one member who represents a professional teachers' organization in a city having a population exceeding 500,000;

(H) one member who represents an association for school administrators;

(I) one member who represents an association for school board members;

(J) one member who represents an association for school principals;

(K) one member who represents an association for regional superintendents of schools;

(L) one member who represents an association for parents;

(M) one member who represents an association for high school districts;

(N) one member who represents an association for large unit districts;

(O) one member who represents an organization that advocates for healthier school environments in this State;

(P) one member who represents an organization that advocates for the health and safety of youth and families in this State by providing capacity-building services;

(Q) one member who represents a statewide association of local philanthropic organizations that advocates for effective educational, health, and human service policies to improve this State's communities;

(R) one member who represents a statewide organization that advocates for partnerships among schools, families, and the community and that, using a school as a hub, provides access to support and removes barriers to learning and development;

(S) one member who represents an organization for charter schools in this State; and

(T) one member who represents an organization for statewide programs actively involved in truancy intervention.

(c) Task Force members shall serve without compensation and shall, subject to the rules of the appropriate travel control board, be reimbursed for any travel expenses from appropriations to the State Board of Education available for that purpose.

(d) The Task Force shall meet initially at the call of the State Superintendent of Education. The members shall elect a chairperson at the initial meeting of the Task Force. For every meeting after the initial meeting, the Task Force shall meet at the call of the chairperson.

(e) The State Board of Education shall provide administrative support to the Task Force.

(f) The Task Force shall hold hearings on a periodic basis to receive testimony from the public regarding the chronic absence of students.

(g) The Task Force shall identify strategies, mechanisms, and approaches to help families, educators, principals, superintendents, and the State Board of Education address and mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the chronic absence of students in early childhood education and care programs and students in grades kindergarten through 12 and shall recommend the following to the General Assembly and the State Board of Education:

(1) a coherent State strategy for addressing the high rates of chronic absenteeism in this State;

(2) State goals for a reduction in chronic absenteeism;

(3) recommendations related to current State Board of Education policies regarding chronic absence, truancy, and attendance;

(4) State policies or initiatives to be established in order to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on chronic absenteeism; and

(5) evidence-based practices for using attendance and chronic absenteeism data to create a multi-tiered system of support that promotes ongoing professional development and equips school-based and community-based personnel with the skills and knowledge necessary to reduce contributing factors to chronic absenteeism in early childhood education and care programs and elementary and secondary schools, which will result in students being ready for college and a career.

(h) The Task Force shall submit an annual report to the General Assembly and the State Board of Education no later than December 15 of each year.

(i) The Task Force is dissolved and this Section is repealed on December 16, 2027.

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